Home-Start Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham

Who we are

Home-Start WKCHF is an experienced local charity, working across 3 London boroughs for over 25 years. We are committed to helping families with young children through their challenging times, through our network of trained volunteer befrienders and therapists.We offer a genuinely rewarding and positive work environment, and ongoing opportunities for staff training and development.

We believe 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.

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.