About Home-Start Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham
Who we are
We are a leading family support charity, providing befriending support and therapy to families with young children, and pregnant women, in 3 boroughs – Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham. Through our network of 80-100 volunteers, we provide non-judgmental practical and emotional support to families in their homes. Our approach is flexible to take account of different needs, with the aim of encouraging families’ strengths and increasing resilience to cope with the stresses of life.
How we work
Home-Start believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents play the key role in giving their children a good start in life. To us every family is special.
We offer a unique service, recruiting and training volunteers – who are usually parents themselves – to visit families at home who have at least 1 child under 5, to offer informal, friendly and confidential support; the approach is flexible to take account of different needs. Our aim is to increase the confidence and independence 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
- encouraging the parents’ strengths and emotional well-being for the ultimate benefit of their own children
- encouraging families to widen their network of relationships and to use effectively the support and services available within the community.
