Volunteers give their time because they want to, not because they have to. This creates a special relationship with parents who are struggling, and makes our work with families very successful.

Volunteer support is effective and cost effective.  It is a way of transforming the lives of families. Even those with complex problems.

There are more than 16,500 volunteers giving their time and experience in 269 local Home-Starts across the UK.

  • 14,000 of them are home visiting volunteers
  • 2,000 others are trustees
  • Even more help out as fundraisers, group workers, etc
  • Some are health workers giving support in specialist areas such as post natal illness
  • Others give their professional skills and time to help with marketing and promotion or IT support

Home-Start's own research shows that it is not only families who benefit from a volunteer's support, the volunteers do too. And so do their communities.

People who volunteer for Home-Start have:

  • better health and wellbeing
  • improved personal and skills development
  • improved chances for work
  • more self confidence

Find out more about Home-Start's research into the benefits of volunteering.