For over 22 years, Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire has been transforming lives and helping children get the best start in life across the community. Based in Maryhill, in the north of Glasgow, the charity supports families who are navigating some of life’s toughest challenges like poverty, poor mental health, isolation, domestic abuse, addiction, bereavement, and more.

Many of the families they support are refugees or asylum seekers who are new to the area, or from other marginalised communities. What they all have in common is at least one child under five, and a pressing need for dignified support.

Home-Start’s staff are supported by a group of trained volunteers - many with lived experience - who are at the heart of the organisation, providing a unique kind of peer support that is both cost-effective and deeply personal. Through a mix of home visits, group sessions, and local outings, they offer practical help and emotional support tailored to each family’s needs.

The charity’s work is grounded in the belief that the first 1001 days of a child’s life are crucial for laying the foundations of a child’s long-term health, development, and wellbeing.

One of their most impactful initiatives is a series of family support groups in North Glasgow.

These groups offer a safe, welcoming space where parents and carers can come together with their young children and enjoy activities such as baby massage, sensory play, music sessions, crafts, and many others.

There’s also practical support, including workshops on cooking healthy meals on a budget, parenting advice, and access to essentials like food and baby banks.

Now, thanks to a generous donation of £2,100 from the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, Home-Start will be able to enhance these vital group activities. The funding will help ensure families can access support in a way that’s non-judgemental, inclusive, and embedded in the community.

Nikki O’Hara, Director at Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire, shared her thanks on behalf of the charity, saying:

 “We are incredibly grateful to Allied Vehicles for their generous donation. This vital support will help us continue providing one-to-one support for families facing difficulties, including mental health challenges, isolation, and financial hardship."

"Thanks to Allied Vehicles, we can reach more families going through difficult times and offer them the encouragement and support they need to build a brighter future.”

David Facenna, Corporate Culture Director at Allied Vehicles Group, said:

“As a business that’s proudly rooted in Glasgow, we understand the importance of community and the power of local support. We’re proud to play a small part in Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire’s incredible work, and it’s a privilege to support an organisation that’s making such a meaningful difference in people’s lives right here in North Glasgow.”

Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust: The Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust is an initiative through which Allied Vehicles Group donates £240,000 a year to charities in communities around its Possilpark, Glasgow headquarters and further afield. Funding applications from organisations for a share of the £20,000 monthly figure are considered by a staff committee and are paid out every month.