ABOUT HOME-START 

 

Home-Start is the UK’s leading family support organisation working with over 30,000 families and 67,000 children each year.  It is a voluntary organisation offering friendship, emotional and practical help to young families who are experiencing stress and difficulties.  Support is given by specially trained volunteers and is available to any family with at least one child under 5 years of age.

 

There are over 300 schemes nationally and each scheme is firmly rooted in the heart of the community it serves.

 

ABOUT HOME-START REDBRIDGE

 

Home-Start Redbridge has been supporting local families for over five years now and currently employs two paid staff and over 20 volunteers. 

 

Home-visiting

Supporting families in their own homes is our core service and, during 2010/2011, 77 families were able to benefit from the support of a Home-Start volunteer.  We support any family who fits within our acceptance criteria, subject to resources being available.  The support provided is free and confidential. 

 

Parents may need help for a variety of reasons including exhaustion, loneliness, multiple birth or lone parenting.  Our volunteers are parents themselves and understand how difficult bringing children up can sometimes be.  Home visiting is central to the support we offer and our volunteers are friendly, understanding and caring.

 

Family Group

 

Meeting weekly (excluding school and public holidays), the group’s main aim is to provide a welcoming non-threatening environment where children can play and parents can have a little respite from the demands of their young children.   We offer:

 

·       Help to parents who are feeling isolated by giving them the opportunity to meet other parents in a stimulating environment

·       The opportunity for parents and children to encounter play experiences not readily available at home

·       parents the opportunity to learn parenting skills from each other

 

Of the 179 children supported during the period 2006-2007, through either home-visiting or the family group, 136 were aged 0-4 years.   32 volunteers were available during the period to work with families.

Useful Links                                                               

*     http://www.home-start.org.uk

*     http://www.parentpages.co.uk – a UK directory for families with (local & national) listings of childcare providers, tutors, days out etc.

 

 

Last revised: February 2008

Created: November 2003

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A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales.

Registered Charity No: 1107422.  Registered Company No: 5283340.   Registered address: The Trinity Centre  St Lukes Courtyard  Baxter Road  Ilford  IG1 2HN.