“You can help make a difference. And that is an incredibly rewarding feeling,” said Caroline Chapman, director of Home-Start Ealing, a charity that has been in our borough for almost 30 years.

It works with many families in need at the earliest point, when they first look for help. This means Home-Start’s team of volunteers are frequently the last line of defence for families against the full effects of poverty or other problems.

It receives some funding from Ealing Council and works closely with it – either as a first point of call for families before they meet council services, or often as a next step once council support programmes have finished providing help.

However, the charity relies mainly on volunteers and from grants, donations and fundraising. Could you get involved?

Improving life chances

Home-Start provides both practical and emotional support to families facing challenging circumstances with children under the age of 5. Such as, poor mental or physical health, post-natal depression, bereavement, financial worries, loneliness and isolation.

It has referrals from GPs, health visitors, perinatal mental health, early start and other organisations, but families can also self-refer if they live in the borough and have a child under school age.

“When we meet one of our families, we first ask what they’d like to achieve,” said Caroline. “Then one of our volunteers will start going to the family home 2 hours a week, over a 3-6month period – longer if needed.

“It is all about befriending and building confidence. We find this support improves parents’ emotional wellbeing.”

Becky Minhas, volunteer and trustee at the charity, added: “Volunteers are like aunties or mums because often the families we support don’t have, or have never had, a role model for bringing up their own children because they didn’t have that in their own childhood.”

Caroline continued: “Things like play and behaviour management are key skills we help with, along with helping them to get out in the community and to access other existing support like playgroups, parent-and-toddler groups and medical services.”

‘A turnaround or transformation’

“After 3 months, we review how it’s been going with the family,” said Caroline. “And then there is another visit at the end of the support to review any improvements that have taken place – and they are often really impressive. Families regularly talk to us about a turnaround or a transformation.

“There is also an intermediate group for families afterwards who still need a bit of help to grow their confidence in accessing the support and service available.”

The new home environment the team help to create also helps to strengthen the emotional bonds between the child and parent – which is critical for the future.

Caroline said: “The life chances of a child are dramatically improved if a secure attachment exists. The evidence suggests that these benefits do not just affect the life of this child but also their own children and grandchildren. Intervening early can make a difference that goes on for generations. Lots of research shows it is a marked and profound thing.”

Volunteering: ‘very real reward’

Volunteers for Home-Start are very well trained and supported.

Vicky Carter, one of the charity’s 2 co-ordinators, said: “Our volunteers often tell us they get as much out of it as the families they support do. And not just in the very real reward of having made a difference in your community but also having improved someone’s life.

“Some of their retired volunteers say it gives them a social boost and stops them from feeling isolated, whereas others who are looking to go back to work find the training, experience and confidence they build up with us makes a big difference in getting a new job.”

A social circle

“The volunteers get together for social gatherings, too, like coffee mornings and lunches,” Vicky continued.

“And the perfect full circle comes sometimes with volunteers coming forward from families who were supported in the past and want to give something back”.

“Some of our volunteers also go on to become trustees of the charity or have a leadership role,” Caroline added.

Nicky McPherson, Home-Start’s other co-ordinator, said: “We look for people who are representative of their communities, from a diverse range of backgrounds, who want to give something back. They need to have some experience of parenting – whether with their own child or through caring in another environment. Having additional languages is an added bonus.”

Volunteer or donate

Find out more:
• phone 020 8842 1617
• Visit the Home-Start website

A fun way you can help is by buying the special Home-Start tea towel, which has a design created by service users. Find out more.