Home-Start UK have announced that they are set to receive £750,000 from Pears Foundation to attract, recruit and retain more volunteers, and increase support for families.

 At the heart of Home-Start’s work is its network of volunteers that are standing by families and helping them improve outcomes for their children. Home-Start volunteers not only improve the lives of parents and children, they build connections and strengthen communities across the UK. Compassionate Communities will bring Home-Starts from across the country together and innovate new ways to recruit, support and retain this team of volunteers

To ensure that local Home-Starts are equipped to help the growing number of families with the voluntary, relational based support that has been shown to improve outcomes for families and children, it is vital to attract and retain more volunteers.

Grants are being made available to local Home-Starts to invest in the recruitment, training and support of volunteers and volunteer managers, including testing and sharing new models of volunteer recruitment and support.

Home-Starts successful in securing Compassionate Communities grants will work together and with Home-Start UK over a period of 18 months to implement and test new models of volunteer recruitment and support creating solutions that can be delivered across the federation.

The Compassionate Communities project builds on the longstanding partnership between Home-Start UK and Pears Foundation, which has already provided over £3 million in funding to develop and sustain the network of local Home-Starts across the UK.

Dr Sarah McMullen, Director of Network Impact at Home-Start UK said:

“For over 50 years, volunteers have been the heart of Home-Start’s work, providing compassionate, non-judgmental and life-changing support for parents and their children. Yet, with changing patterns of volunteering, it is vital that we are able to offer those who dedicate their time to supporting families the right opportunities and the best experience. That is why this funding from Pears Foundation is so critical.

“Over the past two years, funding from Pears Foundation has ensured that Home-Starts facing a challenging funding environment have the breathing space they needed to continue their work. Now we have the opportunity to attract the next generation of volunteers, allowing us to support more families than ever.”

Sir Trevor Pears CMG,  Executive Chair of Pears Foundation:

"My family and I are delighted to continue our partnership with Home-Start UK, which has demonstrated incredible dedication to supporting families across the UK. This £750,000 grant marks an important step in our shared commitment to building compassionate communities that empower families and strengthen local support networks. The innovative work that Home-Start is undertaking to transform volunteer recruitment, training, and management will have a lasting impact, ensuring that more families have access to the relational, compassionate support they need. We look forward to seeing this next phase of our partnership deliver meaningful change and create sustainable, inclusive volunteering practices for the future."

Last year, Home-Start family volunteers and staff supported 75,416 children and 58,850 families in communities across the UK, an increase of 34% compared to the previous year and an increase of 135.7% since 2020/21.