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The earliest years make the biggest impact: Home-Start make sure those years count so that no child’s future is limited.

What goes on inside a family during these early years strongly determines the opportunities and life chances children have. Children who are raised in a stable, loving, family environment are more likely to have a positive and healthy future. 

Families struggling with post-natal depression, isolation, physical health problems, bereavement and many other issues receive the support of a volunteer family mentor who will spend around two hours a week in a family’s home.  Through practical and emotional support, they make sure parents have the skills, confidence and strength they need to nurture their children.

The model works because our family mentors are parents. They understand how hard it can be. They work alongside parents, in their own homes, to help them cope with the stresses and strains of life and be the best parent they can be.

 

Home-Start’s Vision

Home-Start Herts  believe every parent should have the support they need to give their  children the best possible  start in life

Home-Start’s Mission

At Home-Start Herts we deliver high quality, volunteer led services to support families through challenging times.  By getting in early, we help parents grow in confidence and enjoy positive family relationships

The Home-Start Story

Home-Start was founded by Margaret Harrison in 1973 and is now one of the leading charities in the UK working with families in need. 

Did you know, there are 215 local independent Home-Starts in the UK, and 22 countries that have Home-Start providing support for families?

Home-Start has been operating in Hertfordshire since 1983 and over time developed a network of nine local schemes.

From 1st April 2016, following a crippling funding cut, six of the Hertfordshire schemes joined together to create what is now Home-Start Hertfordshire.

Our head office is based in Stevenage, however there are operational staff based in each of the local areas to ensure we maintain close links with the community and are accessible for our families and volunteers.

We cover:

• North Herts
• Stevenage
• East Herts
• Dacorum
• St Albans
• Welwyn Hatfield

We have a team of 13 staff, approximately 150 volunteer mentors and a board of Trustees and committee members, all of whom bring specialist skills and experience to support the scheme.