Home-Start offers free support, friendship and practical help to families with at least one child under five.

Families are visited regularly in their own homes by volunteers who have all had experience of parenting, and know how hard it can sometimes be.

Home-Start helps thousands of families every year, and has over 330 local schemes, throughout the UK and with British Forces in Germany and Cyprus. Home-Start has more than 10,000 trained volunteers of all ages and from all walks of life helping families in local communities.

Home-Start helps to increase the confidence and independance of the family by:

• offering support, friendship and practical assistance
• visiting families in their own homes, where the dignity and identity of each individual can be respected and protected
• reassuring parents that difficulties in bringing up children are not unusual and encouraging enjoyment in family life
• developing a relationship with the family in which time can be shared and understanding can be developed; the approach is flexible to take account of different needs
• encouraging parents' strengths and emotional well being for the ultimate benefit of their children
• encouraging families to widen their network of relationships and to use the support and services available within the community effectively