Home-Start UK

Home-Start UK

At a glance

Causes

  • Children / families

Other details

Geographical remit: 
National - Britain

Objectives

Home-Start UK is the national body providing training, information and guidance to 280 Home-Starts across the UK who deliver the Home-Start service locally.

Home-Start helps families with young children deal with whatever life throws at them.  We support parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children.  The benefits of our support include improved health and well being and better family relationships.

Our values

We offer families choice
We work in partnership with each other, with families and with other agencies
We work in a spirit of openness, encouragement and enjoyment
We are flexible and responsive to the needs of families

Our vision Home-Start wants to see a society in which every parent has the support they need to give their children the best possible start in life

Our 2014 impact report shows that 18,422 volunteers are supporting 29,170 families and 63,308 children.

The research for this report shows that with the support of a Home-Start volunteer families experience a significant increase in their ability to cope in four key areas:

  • Parental health and well being
  • Children’s health and well being
  • Parenting skills
  • Family management

 

Activities

Why it matters The five years between birth and school are vital for a child's development.  What goes on inside a family during those years strongly determines the opportunities and life chances children have.  Our volunteers visit the family's home for a couple of hours every week.  They tailor-make their support to the needs of the parents and children. Volunteers are very committed and will keep visiting until the youngest child turns five or starts school, or until the parents feel they can stand on their own two feet.  Parents and volunteers often develop a deeply trusting relationship which can lead to a powerful change within the family.  They work alongside parents, in their own homes, to help them cope with the stresses and strains of life and to make sure they have the skills, time and strength they need to nurture their children.

Local Home-Starts also run family groups and events for families.

 

 

No current opportunities

Search for volunteer opportunities with other organisations.