The charity Home-Start is celebrating its 40th birthday this year and local MP Steve Brine dropped into the Winchester branch recently to join the celebrations.
Steve, who is a member of the influential Justice Select Committee in the House of Commons, was guest speaker at the group's AGM on the importance of early intervention.
He met members, trustees, staff and volunteers of Home-Start Winchester & District at the event which took place at Lantern's Children's Centre in Winchester on Thursday 12 September 2013.
Home-Start offers support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children, in local communities throughout the UK and with British Forces in Germany and Cyrpus. Its core service is provided by a team of volunteers who offer informal, friendly and confidential support to families.
Speaking after the event, which was also attended by Steve's wife Susie and young son, William, he said; "When Home-Start asked me to do this and said they wanted me to speak about early intervention it was an easy invitation to accept because this is a subject I am passionate about.
"This organisation does so much to help build the stronger society we all want to see and has at its heart a belief that children need a happy and secure childhood that ultimately allows them to acheive their full potential.
"I hope those present found it interesting to hear about some of the work being done around attachment theory and complimentary programmes such as the Troubled Families agenda."
Steve also spoke about his recent experiences visiting Texas to see how early intervention is being used as part of the drive to reduce offending.
Pictured; Steve speaking to the meeting and with Chairwoman Liz Cooper and Mayor, Cllr Ernie Jeffs cutting the cake!
More information ...
Home-Start Winchester & District website
You can download Steve's speech The importance of early intervention (as a PDF)
Brozen Boughs study from New Zealand based Maxim Institute
ONS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey (Young Minds)
Hermanns research at University of Amsterdam & Utrecht
Hampshire 'Troubled Families' programme
Nurse Family Partnership in Harris County, Houston, Texas
House of Commons Justice Select Committee
Justice Committee Report into Youth Justice, Speech & Communication evidence