The children’s commissioner for England has said that Home-Start makes a significant improvement to people’s parenting ability, and helps them to access services.

In a new report into tackling poverty in the early years the commissioner, Anne Longfield, said their research “shows that with the support of a Home-Start volunteer families experience a significant increase in their ability to parent and meet the needs of their children”.

You can read the new report by the Children’s Commissioner here.

Rob Parkinson, chief executive of Home-Start UK said “early intervention can make a huge difference to a child’s future and a family’s wellbeing. Our own research shows the difference that Home-Start’s work makes, and when we speak to families they tell us how their volunteer has changed their lives. I am really pleased that this has been recognised by the children’s commissioner in her report.”

Home-Start’s own research into the families we support showed that 95% of parents felt more involved in their children’s development and 94% felt better able to manage their children’s behaviour after receiving the support of a home-visiting volunteer.

The children’s commissioner’s report featured the comments of a parent who was being supported by a local Home-Start. The commissioner said “the support has provided her with some respite from the day to day tasks that she was struggling with and has also been an enabling factor in helping her to access early years services which she was nervous of.”

Rob Parkinson added, “Many of the families we support either don’t know what services can help them or they can’t access them. Whether families are living with post-natal depression, isolation or find it difficult to leave the house, identifying and helping families access services is one of the most important roles of a Home-Start volunteer. This is why I am delighted that this has been included in the report.”

The report is called 'Changing The Odds In The Early Years' and Home-Start is mentioned on pages seven and eight.