Priti Patel, MP for Witham, recently met with Home-Start Essex Chief Executive Officer, Nic O’Brien, in Witham to discuss the charity’s ongoing work supporting families across the local area and the increasing demand for family support services.
Home-Start Essex is part of the wider Home-Start network and provides practical and emotional support to families with young children who may be experiencing challenging circumstances. Through a dedicated team of volunteers and staff, the organisation offers guidance and hands-on assistance to ensure children receive the best possible start in life.
Priti has been a long-standing supporter of Home-Start since becoming the MP for Witham in 2010 and has worked closely with the charity over many years to support families in the constituency.
During the meeting, Nic outlined the growing need for Home-Start’s services across Essex and the importance of securing continued local support. Priti and Nic also discussed the charity’s work supporting families across Witham and Mid, West and South Essex, noting that demand for support has increased year on year.
Nic highlighted the importance of securing sustainable funding to ensure Home-Start can continue delivering its vital services within local communities. With an increasing focus on prevention and early intervention to support families and children with the challenges they face, including supporting children with special needs as soon as possible, Priti and Nic discussed the opportunities for Home-Start to provide more support to them through new initiatives and funding opportunities.
Following the meeting, Priti said:
“It was a pleasure to meet with Nic O’Brien once again and to discuss the important work that Home-Start Essex continues to deliver for families across Essex. As a longstanding supporter of Home-Start, I was delighted to speak with Nic about their vital work supporting families and children locally across Witham and the wider county. Having previously donated and supported Witham Home-Start for many years, I have seen first-hand the importance of their support networks and the difference they make in giving children the best possible start in life.
“Since becoming the Member of Parliament for Witham, I have consistently supported Home-Start and have always admired the compassion and dedication shown by their volunteers and staff. Home-Start provides a genuinely vital service for families, offering both practical help and emotional support to those who need it most, and their work continues to make a real and lasting difference.
“I am incredibly grateful to everyone involved with Home-Start for their commitment to supporting families and strengthening our communities. It is an honour to continue supporting their work and to champion the services they provide for families across our constituency.”
Nic O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer of Home-Start Essex, said:
“I was delighted to be able to meet with Priti and discuss our valued support services to families within Witham and throughout Mid, West and South Essex. We are seeing demand for our services increase year on year and it is vital that we can gain local funding so that we are able to secure our continued service provision within the local area.
“With local government reform imminent we are hoping there will be a real commitment from local government and health to provide future funding for Home-Start services that make such a lasting difference to so many families' lives.
“Volunteers are also the foundations of the support services we provide to families and make such a difference to the parents/carers and children they support. We are actively recruiting volunteers now and would welcome enquiries from anyone interested in helping to give children the best possible start in life.”
