A HUSBAND who says his marriage was saved because of the help given by a family charity is devastated to hear his local branch is closing.
Justin Hall spoke out following the announcement made by Home-Start Amber Valley – a voluntary organisation that supports families, where there is at least one child under five, who are experiencing difficulties.
The Amber Valley family support service will close by the end of the year after Derbyshire County Council stopped its funding.
Mr Hall and wife Grace, of Heanor, have been receiving help from the charity over the past nine months.
Grace, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, has struggled to function in everyday life but a volunteer from Home-Start has helped her learn routines to help her cope.
The 54-year-old, of Heanor, said: "Home-Start are just incredible – without them I am not sure my marriage would have survived.
"My sanity and my wife's have been saved. My wife has made significant progress and together we have learnt coping mechanisms.
"As a consequence, our three-year-old daughter is in a much happier family. We have learned to fight the problems."
Home-Start Amber Valley was set up in 1980 and last year supported 49 parents and 97 children. Their 22 volunteers are supported by three members of staff and by a board of volunteer trustees.
Home-Starts in Derby, Erewash, South Derbyshire and High Peak will continue operating.
Corinne Clemson, chair of the trustees of Amber Valley Home-Start, said: "It is with great sadness that we have reached this decision and we are very aware of the impact on families in the area as this unique and highly valued service closes. The trustees have worked tirelessly to find funding but, after the failure of successive bids, have reached the decision that there is no alternative but to close.
"Our immediate aim is to make sure there is support for the families still on our books."
She said that Home-Start Erewash would in the short term be supporting families and volunteers currently in the scheme in the Heanor and Langley Mill area and that they were looking for alternative support for other families.
A Derbyshire County Council spokesman said: "We're having to review every service we deliver in light of a £157 million shortfall in our budget over the next four years, mainly caused by reductions in Government grants.
"Some very difficult decisions have had to be made to help us work to achieve those cuts and the Home-Start contract was one we chose not to renew when it came to an end in March."
