A YOUNG mum from Latvia left penniless and alone in Greenock while fighting for residency during the pandemic says a local charity saved her family.

Home-Start Inverclyde, which offers a lifeline for families with young children, stepped in to give vital help to Kristine Rode during the coronavirus crisis.

The desperate 24-year-old was taken under the wing of the dedicated team throughout her pregnancy, with co-ordinator Kerry Dickson even acting as her birthing partner when daughter Enija was born.

Kristine, who stays in Greenock with her five-year-old son Oliver and 19-month-old Enija, said: "I was on my own and pregnant with my second child when I first met Kerry at Home Start Inverclyde.

"All I had was a pram for the new baby.

"But Kerry stepped straight in to help, I don't know what I where I would be without her.

"At one stage I had only £30 a week because I was waiting for my residency to be sorted out and couldn't get benefits.

"I was so low and depressed, I didn't have anyone and the language was a barrier for me.

"But Kerry and Home-Start made sure I was okay, they helped me every step of the way.

"It is a real friendship with Kerry and I love the support from other parents.

"I just don't know what I would have done without Home-Start Inverclyde."

Home Start Inverclyde is funded by the lottery and helps up to 50 families at a time in the area, providing one to one mentoring as well as peer support.

During the pandemic they continued to offer a lifeline, supporting parents on doorsteps, providing all kinds of practical help.

Kristine first arrived in Scotland aged 17 and moved to Greenock with an ex-partner.

She and her children faced almost total isolation during the pandemic, as she also faced a battle for her residency to legally stay in the country.

She said: “I can really see the impact lockdown has had on my daughter as when we go out now she looks so scared of people.

"She just freezes and stares, it must seem so unnatural to her.

"For her, everything is new, even the park.

"When her older brother Oliver was Enija’s age he’d been to park loads of times.

"Without Home-Start supporting me through the pandemic I’d be in a huge depression right now.

"I can’t see how we’d have got through it.”

Kerry said: "It was a privilege to be with Kristine when baby was born.

"We care so much about all our families."

Home-Start Inverclyde manager Iain MacDonald said: "This is more than a job to our team.

"It is not a 9-5, they are always there for their families."