Why fundraise for us? Because you can help us change a child's life The emotional, physical and psychological cost for children experiencing tragedy, hardship and neglect is immense and can last a life-time. The need for our work is acute and growing. In the UK right now: 6 million children live in severe poverty 93,000 children live in care – an increase of 10,000 in 10 years 1 in 10 children aged between 5 and 16 have a mental health problem 2 million children are regular witnesses to severe forms of domestic violence We want to see a society in which every parent has the support they need to give their children the best possible start in life. We believe that the best possible start in life for a child begins at home with their family. A nurturing, loving, stable family and home environment strongly determines a child’s future life chances. Children whose parents are struggling to cope can miss out on the love, routine and support that are vital for their future. Each year we have to turn away thousands of parents and children because we don’t have the funds to help them all. When children face severe illness, or disability, when their mother has postnatal depression, when their father loses a job and spirals into debt and mental ill health or alcohol abuse, when they are in shocking housing or their family is threatened with losing their home… our volunteers want to be there for them – to help them and their whole family until they can cope again. We want to reach each child in their vital early years so they can have the best possible start in life. Very often we are the last chance they have. Home-Start depends heavily on donations from people like you to fund our work with parents and children. Everyone needs help at some time in their life... please help us to make a difference to a child's life today. Children in families just like these: Ways to help us: You can make a donation or take part in a challenge to run, cycle or trek and ask your friends and family to sponsor you. Or you can get your business involved or run your own event. And every year we run our snowflake appeal to raise funds for children as unique and fragile as snowflakes who are facing tragedy or hardship across the UK. It's important for you to know... ...what part of Home-Start you are fundraising for. Our network is made up of Home-Start UK and many hundreds of local Home-Starts. Each is listed with the Charity Commission as a separate charity and each raises funds for its own work. So if you want to raise funds for Home-Start's work with children and families across the whole country, make sure you are fundraising for Home-Start UK. If you want to make sure you are fundraising for children in a particular area, contact the Home-Start in that area. Please note, unless otherwise indicated, the events advertised and money raised on this website www.home-start.org.uk goes towards Home-Start UK's work across the whole of the country. Picture at top of page posed by model