“Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have changed the fortune of our organisation”

 

Home-Start UK Celebrates £1 Million Raised by Players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Home-Start UK is celebrating a major milestone as local Home-Starts across the country have now received a combined total of over £1 million thanks to the generosity of players of People’s Postcode Lottery through the Millionaire Street prize.

One local Home-Start manager who has previously received funding said, “It’s not an overstatement to say that the £75,000 raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery has changed the fortune of our organisation.”

The most recent recipient was announced on Saturday 20^th December when the team at Home-Start Horizons, which supports families in Leicester and Leicestershire, found out they have been awarded £60,000 towards the charity’s work with families and children.

This brings the total amount that players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised for Home-Starts to £1,025,000 across 23 grants over a 26-month period.

Stuart Sullivan, CEO of Home-Start Horizons said:

“Home-Start Horizons is incredibly grateful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their generous support, which will help us make a real difference to families in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland at a time of pressing need. With four-in-every-ten children in Leicester now living in poverty – significantly above the national average and contributing to increased stress, poorer health outcomes and strain on family wellbeing – the demand for early-help support has never been greater.

“Annually we support hundreds of families with children under five, providing tailored volunteer-led home-visiting, family groups and mental health programmes, reporting high levels of reduced isolation and improved parental confidence. Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we can extend this vital support to more families struggling with low income, isolation and emotional stress, strengthening parents and giving children the best possible start in life, because childhood can’t wait.”

The impact of this funding has been transformative for Home-Starts working in communities across the UK. Funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery has allowed local Home-Starts to expand their reach, strengthen early-years support, and ensure families are not left alone during particularly challenging moments. To date 21 Home-Starts have received Millionaire Street funding. Together these Home-Starts support just under 12,000 families and 14,500 children.

One of the most recent recipients, Home-Start Chichester and District, was awarded £75,000 in December 2024. This funding has been vital in ensuring their sustainability at a time when securing funding for charities is so challenging and the need has never been higher. They have also been able to develop and expand the support they give the parents they work with.

Lois Rowlands, Manager of Home-Start Chichester said:

“It is not an overstatement to say that the £75,000 from players of People’s Postcode Lottery has changed the fortune of our organisation. As a result, we’ve been able to assist more families. The award has been used to offer free family support groups and fun and educational days out. Our work has helped to improve the wellbeing of children and parents, develop positive parenting skills and financial resilience, and enhance the reading skills of children. Crucially, this award has increased our financial resilience, which means we’ll be able to help more struggling parents and children in the future.”

One Chichester family supported through this funding shared how impactful the help has been:

“My partner and I moved to Chichester in April 2023. I had a new baby and I was lonely and frustrated. I was put in touch with Home-Start and matched with Katie, a Home-Start volunteer. Katie visited me at home and invited me to a family group session. The group had such a big impact on me; we are mostly first-time parents. When I was really upset about my baby’s feeding one of the coordinators came to my house to help me with weaning. The social activities that Home-Start arranges have also helped my husband and he has been able to meet other fathers. I’m no longer lonely. I’m part of a community and now I feel like a confident parent.”

In June 2025 Home-Start Suffolk also received £75,000 from Millionaire Street. They said:

“The funding has had a huge impact by strengthening our support and ability to respond more flexibly to the needs of families. The award also brough a sense of pride that our work is recognised and valued. Receiving the funding was uplifting for everyone at Home-Start Suffolk”.

Vivien Waterfield, Deputy Chief Executive at Home-Start UK, said:

“Reaching the £1 million milestone is an extraordinary moment for Home-Start and the families we support. Every win on Millionaire Street has meant more families receiving life-changing help at the moments they need it most. We are deeply grateful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, whose support not only offers parents hope, reassurance, and the strength to keep going, but also reflects a true understanding of the importance of unrestricted, core funding. They are a funder that trusts us to use donations where they will have the greatest impact for families.”

Last year, Home-Start supported 58,850 families and more than 75,000 children across the UK, meeting each family’s unique needs with kindness and care.

For more than 50 years, Home-Start has been changing lives, with trained volunteers providing practical and emotional support to families with babies and young children. Evidence shows this help builds parents’ confidence, strengthens family relationships, and lays the foundations for children’s future wellbeing and learning.

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