MUM Joanne Arnott’s lucky break was finding helper Pip Roper after badly hurting herself in a fall.

She broke her right arm in two places and fractured her left hand after slipping over.

Jo, aged 35, of Cambridge Road, Dorchester, faced looking after her two young children with both limbs in plaster.

But her health visitor suggested that a volunteer from the Home-Start West Dorset charity – which has just moved to Dorchester – could help.

Now Pip Roper is helping Jo look after Thomas, aged one, and Isabelle, aged four, until she is well enough to cope on her own.

Jo, who is married to hydrologist Sean, 35, said: “Pip has been amazing.

“I can’t open jars, feed the children, put Thomas in the high chair, change nappies or put him in his cot to sleep.

“I can’t even push a pushchair.

“Pip has been brilliant. She comes in and helps at least once a week and also takes me shopping to Tesco.

“Everybody needs a Pip.”

Jo’s family also help her out but it will be a couple of months before she makes a full recovery.

Pip, aged 61, from Portesham, helps Jo and one other family in Dorchester on a voluntary basis with Home-Start.

The charity gives friendship, advice and practical support to families. It mainly helps parents with children under five who are finding it difficult to cope, in a non-judgmental, practical way.

Pip, who has three grandchildren, said: “I worked for the local GP for 25 years.

“I retired last July and wanted to have another challenge without having to go to work.”

She added: “Volunteering with Home-Start is brilliant.

“I absolutely love it. The training is very good.”

Home-Start West Dorset recently moved to Unit 13, Prospect House, Peverell Avenue East at Poundbury from the Children’s Centre in Bridport during its first year of operation.

Jo said: “People shouldn’t worry about letting a Home-Start volunteer in to their house.

“I didn’t even know they existed until my health visitor told me.

“They are wonderful people.”

Contact Home-Start West Dorset on 01305 755603 or 01305 755608.

Visit Homestartwestdorset.co.uk/page/home.