WHEN she arrived in Glasgow from Sudan with two small children in tow and pregnant with her third, Aamira felt scared and alone.

“I had no idea what to expect, I had never heard of Glasgow, and I just desperately wanted to provide my children with a safe home,” she says. “Home-Start Glasgow helped connect me to my community.”

The parenting charity has received £1000 from the John Lewis Give a Little Love campaign to provide tablets and phone data to families who cannot spend Christmas together, allowing them to connect with their loved ones online.

Nikki O’Hara, Director of Home-Start Glasgow North said: “Families have shown true resilience during the pandemic, but we are now seeing first-hand the devastating impact of the virus. Many of the families we support were already impacted by isolation and loneliness due to mental health issues or as asylum seekers in a new country, but COVID-19 has taken it to a challenging level.

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“Our work with John Lewis and Waitrose Partners has come at the perfect time, raising the profile of Home-Start across the nation while enabling us to recruit new volunteers and secure vital funds. The kindness and generosity that the partners and their customers have shown is incredible.”

Aamira (not her real name) says she joined the charity’s Thursday Family Group.

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“It quickly became the highlight of my week,” she smiles. “I made friends and it was lovely to see the boys playing with other children. When lockdown happened I missed it hugely.

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“Being home alone with three boys has been hard and I desperately missed my family. When Home-Start gave me a tablet it opened up my world. I can keep in contact with my family in Sudan, join the Family Zoom Meetings and stay connected to my Home-Start volunteer. The kids can do lessons online. It’s made such a difference to all of us.”

“Home-Start has helped me build a happy home.”