About us
Helping parents develop the skills, confidence and strength they need to nurture their children.
About us
Helping parents develop the skills, confidence and strength they need to nurture their children.
Home-Start Hertfordshire helps families struggling with poor mental health, post-natal depression, isolation, physical health problems, bereavement and many other issues.
We provide the support of a volunteer family mentor who will spend around 2-3 hours a week in a family’s home. Through practical and emotional support, they build confidence and ensure parents have the skills and strength they need to nurture their children.
The model works because our family mentors are parents or have experience in caring for children. 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, so parents can be the best they can be.
Our vision
Home-Start Herts believes every child deserves a happy and secure childhood and that every parent should have the support they need to give their children the best start in life.
Our mission
We deliver high quality volunteer-led services to support families in Hertfordshire through challenging times.
We step in to support parents through their difficulties as early as possible, helping them grow in confidence and build support networks in their community.
We know that what happens in a child’s early years will determine their chances in the future, so we’re there for parents when they need us most – because childhood can’t wait.
Our impact
“A breath of fresh air.”
“A godsend.”
“A life saver.”
This is how families, in their toughest times, describe the support they receive from Home-Start Herts.
Home-Start’s history
Home-Start was founded in Leicester in 1973 by mother-of-three Margaret Harrison, a volunteer for charities working with families and children.
She recognised that with support and friendship from other parents, families are better equipped to cope with difficulties and give their children the best possible start in life.
The idea spread. Home-Start Herts launched in 1983 and is now one of 200 Home-Starts collectively supporting more than 50,000 children across the UK each year.
Home-Start in Hertfordshire
Home-Start first launched in Hertfordshire in 1983, growing into a network of nine local schemes across the county.
Following a devastating funding cut in 2016, six of those Home-Starts merged to create what is now known as Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Our head office is in Stevenage, but we also have operational staff working in each of the areas we cover.
Areas covered by Home-Start Herts
- North Herts
- Stevenage
- East Herts
- Dacorum
- St Albans
- Welwyn and Hatfield
Our team
Home-Start Herts is made up of 15 staff, around 70 trained volunteer family mentors, and a board of trustees and committee members, all of whom bring specialist skills and experience to support the charity’s work across Hertfordshire.
