Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Cymraeg
  • Scotland
Home-Start UK

Tagline here

    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • LinkedIn
Get help Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • Get help
    • Things we can help with
    • How we help you
    • Find support for your family
    • Find your Home-Start
    • Make a referral
  • Volunteer
    • How to volunteer
    • Volunteer FAQS
    • Volunteer stories
    • Register your interest
    • Comment Wall
    • Volunteer News
  • Support us
    • How to support us
    • Fundraise for us
      • Why fundraise?
      • Fundraising guide
      • Create your fundraising page
      • Unity Lottery
      • Virtual Fundraising
    • Challenge Events
      • Running
      • Cycling
      • International events
      • UK challenges
    • Leave a gift in your will
    • Home-Start shops
    • Corporate Partnerships
  • About us
    • About us
    • Our organisation
      • Our people
        • Senior management team
        • Our trustees
        • Patrons and ambassadors
      • Home-Start strategy 22 - 27
      • Annual reports
      • Funders and partners
    • Our services
    • Our impact
    • Where we work
      • Home-Start in England
      • Home-Start in Northern Ireland
      • Home-Start in Scotland
      • Home-Start in Wales
      • Find your nearest Home-Start
      • Setting up a new Home-Start
    • Common questions
    • Policy
    • Research and evaluation
    • Media office
    • Jobs
  • News
    • News Stories
    • Family Voices
    • Family Matters magazine
    • #BehindTheMask
    • Home-Start podcast
    • Share your story
  • Support for Families
    • Support for Families
    • Support for families during COVID-19
    • Activities for families during COVID-19
    • Impact of Covid-19 Emergency Appeal
  • Admin
    • Log in
    • Cymraeg
    • Scotland
  • Basket: (0 items)
  1. Support for Families

Impact of Emergency Appeal

“I cannot thank Home-Start enough. I feel like you really care”

Thanks to your support our COVID-19 emergency appeal has raised £173,000 and has supported over 80 Home-Starts in communities’ right across the UK. We wanted to let you know how your support is helping thousands of families during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since April, you have helped us provide emergency supplies such as baby goods, food and care packages for families in critical need. Your donations have helped us set up and run new online groups and support sessions, and dozens of local Home-Starts have been given the vital equipment they needed to carry on supporting families by phone and on line.

Your donations have also helped our volunteers around the country keep in touch with mums like Mercedes who is getting support from Home-Start York’s new local Volunteer Telephone Befriending Services. “During the Coronavirus pandemic Home-Start has really helped us keep sane,” she says. 

“It’s helped us keep a routine, and keep up with everyone. They’ve continued to be a huge support through calls and video calls and I couldn’t thank them more for everything”.  

Home-Start Trafford, Salford and Wigan were able to deliver a much-needed food parcel with David* a dad with complex health needs who has to completely self-isolate. When his isolation began, David said “I don't know what I am going to do. I can't let my child starve. I know they are looking after my health, but my child comes first”.  They have also provided David with lots of fun ideas and activities he can do with his daughter at home and will be keeping in touch to make sure they have all the support and supplies they need to get them through the next few weeks.

It’s a really tough time for families at home without access to toys, books and games and outdoor spaces to play in. So your donations have been helping us provide activity packs and learning materials for some of the most isolated.  Emma* is one of over 130 families in Hampshire recently received educational activity packs volunteers and staff had created.

"I received the arts and crafts pack this morning from Home-Start Hampshire and it brought tears to my eyes, I'm so grateful. My sons face lit up when he saw what was inside. I cannot thank you enough for all the help and support you are giving. I'm so grateful, thank you so much."

Claire, a mum with a two year old child, was one of the parents supported by Home-Start Craven with

supermarket vouchers to top-up their weekly shopping. The pandemic threw all of Claire’s plans into chaos. She had just finished her degree and was hoping to start work but has had to put those plans on hold. At the same time, her husband is self-employed so there was no income coming into the family home for several weeks. The vouchers were vital help at a critical time.

 "The additional help and funds have provided relief in an uncertain period during the Coronavirus outbreak. It has been much appreciated, thank you!"

Help us carry on supporting parents like Mercedes, Emma, David and Claire by setting up a regular donation today.

Your support has made a huge difference to thousands of families across the UK, but there is always more to do. The impact on families over the past three months has been huge and families will need the support of their local Home-Start as the lock-down finishes. We are already expecting a big increase in the number of families coming forward.

Keep up to date with how we are helping to support families after COVID-19 by signing up to our monthly email here.

A monthly donation of £11 could help with practical goods like nappies and baby food 

*Not their real name 

Published: 18th June, 2020

Updated: 29th October, 2020

Author: Mollie Footitt

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Help us keep families connected

COVID-19 places the greatest strain on families who are vulnerable, isolated, or facing mental health challenges.

Home-Starts are working tirelessly to stay connected with families and support them remotely when they can’t visit. They are helping families get vital food, baby goods and other supplies delivered to them during the outbreak.

We can’t do it alone. We need your support.

Published: 20th March, 2020

Author: Matt Hann

Location: ,,

Target amount: £0.00

Amount raised: £37,558.51

Donate

Comments: 1

Related topics:

Latest

  • Press and PR Manager

    Press and PR Manager

    A fantastic opportunity to lead the development of a media and PR programme at Home-Start UK, increase our profile and make sure Home-Start and the families we support are at the heart of the conversation.

  • Welcome to Family Matters - Spring 2022

    Welcome to Family Matters - Spring 2022

    Mum of three, Kelly, welcomes you to the Spring 2022 edition of 'Family Matters' magazine. She shares how Home-Start built her confidence and changed the future prospects for her children. Now she is training to become a Home-Start volunteer herself.

  • Aamira's Story: I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t speak the language and I had no idea what to do next

    Aamira's Story: I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t speak the language and I had no idea what to do next

    Pregnant with her third child, Aamira fled civil war and found safety in the UK. She says Home-Start helped her family build a happy new life. This is her story.

  • Cultivating better mental health

    Cultivating better mental health

    Growing veg has led to a growth in confidence and better and mental wellbeing for mums, thanks to an allotment project run by Home-Start Slough. Find out more.

Most read

  • Find your Home-Start

    Find your Home-Start

    Find your nearest Home-Start using our online map.

  • About us

    About us

    Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can’t wait.

  • Work for Home-Start UK

    Work for Home-Start UK

    The people at Home-Start are its most important resource. Home-Start UK has been accredited with Investors in People since March 2005, which recognises the commitment we give to developing our staff. Please find below current vacancies within Home-Start UK.

  • Find a Home-Start in Scotland

    Find a Home-Start in Scotland

    Find your nearest Home-Start in Scotland

  • Find a Home-Start in Northern Ireland

    Find a Home-Start in Northern Ireland

    Find your nearest Home-Start in Northern Ireland

  • Make a referral

    Make a referral

    We receive referrals from health visitors, GPs, social care and child care practitioners as well as those involved in mental health services, education, early years and probation.

  • Find a Home-Start in Wales

    Find a Home-Start in Wales

    Find your nearest Home-Start in Wales

  • Ways to volunteer - home visiting

    Help parents and their children by visiting them for a couple of hours a week in their own homes.

  • Home-visiting

    Home-visiting

    Starting in the home, our approach is as individual as the people we’re helping. No judgement, just compassionate, confidential help and expert support.

  • Find support for your family

    Find support for your family

    Family pressures can sometimes be difficult to manage without emotional support and guidance around you. Find out how you can get the support you need.

Because childhood can't wait

Because childhood can't wait

The earliest years make the biggest difference. Home-Start makes sure those years count, so no child's future is limited.

Donate here to support Home-Start UK’s work around the country. To support a local Home-Start, you can find their details here. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 19th March, 2015

Updated: 14th April, 2022

Author:

Comments: 8

Latest tweet

Subscribe

Please confirm you are happy to sign up for the for Home-Start email newsletter:

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Helpful links

  • Home
  • About us
  • How we help
  • How to volunteer
  • Fundraise for us
  • Jobs
  • Contact
  • @Home intranet login
  • Accessibility
  • Terms and conditions
  • GDPR compliance
  • General Privacy Notice
  • Sitemap
  • Complaints policy
  • Quality Assurance Policy
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • YouTube
      • LinkedIn

Home-Start UK. A charitable company limited by guarantee. Charity no. in England and Wales 1108837 and in Scotland SC039172. Company no. 5382181.

Registered office: The Crescent, King Street, Leicester, LE1 6RX. © Home-Start UK