Volunteers give their time because they want to, not because they have to. This creates a special relationship with parents who are struggling, and makes our work with families very successful.

Volunteer support is effective and cost effective.  It is a way of transforming the lives of families. Even those with complex problems.

There are around 10,000 volunteers giving their time every year in 180 local Home-Starts across the UK.

This includes:

• Home visiting volunteers
• Digital befrienders
• Group support volunteers
• Trustees
• Support as fundraisers
• Health workers and other experts who give support in specialist areas such as post natal illness
• Office support using professional skills and time to help with marketing and promotion or IT

Home-Start's own research shows that it is not only families who benefit from a volunteer's support, the volunteers do too. And so do their communities.

People who volunteer for Home-Start have:

• better health and wellbeing
• improved personal and skills development
• improved chances for work
• more self confidence

Find out more about Home-Start's research into the benefits of volunteering.