How to get help from Home-Start
All parents struggle at one time or another. For some, the challenges can be greater. You are not alone.
Support from Home-Start
Being a parent has never been easy. It can be lonely, frustrating, heartbreaking and overwhelming. That is why Home-Start is ready to support families through their toughest times.
There are many reasons why families need support and these can include:
- Poor mental or physical health
- Bereavement
- Multiple births
- Feeling isolated
Home-Start volunteers support families with individual one-to-one home-visiting and a wide range of targeted support for parents and their children.
We work with families in a range of ways, and use the approach they think will give them the best support. All our services are free and based around the principle that volunteers offer no judgement, just compassionate, confidential help and support.
To access Home-Start support, you must generally have at least one child aged five years or under, and there must be a volunteer available to support you.
How to get help
We have strong relationships with health visitors, social workers, mental health services and educational professionals who may refer families to us, but only with the family’s permission.
Professionals (e.g., health visitors etc.) can click on ‘Referral form for professionals’ button below and complete our online form to refer a family to us.
If you are a parent looking for support, we know it can be hard to reach out and asking for support is the bravest thing you can do. Click on the ‘Help for me’ button below to complete our online form and let us know as much about your situation as you feel able to. If you do decide to ask for support, one of our staff will get back to you to talk about your needs.
Please note that support is dependent on volunteer and Co-ordinator capacity. All of our support is confidential.
Our support groups
We hold regular groups at local venues where you and your children can come along and meet other families. Your children get the chance to play, learn and have fun with other children and with different books and toys. You get the chance to meet and talk to other parents – and many parents discover they are going through the same kinds of experiences and feel less alone. Our groups are a great place for parents to pick up advice, tips and help from Home-Start and other parents.
Home-Start Baby & Me Group
Tuesdays 10am-11:30am
Great Western Park District Community Centre,
1 Gentian Mews,
Didcot,
OX11 6GR
Our Baby & Me Group is a weekly drop-in group for expectant parents and parents with babies up to 15 months old.
- Meet other expectant/new parents, make new friends and share experiences, if you wish, over coffee.
- A calm environment for your child, encouraging exploration through toys and socialising with other babies.
- Support and advice from friendly staff and volunteers.
We ask for a voluntary £2 donation per family for each session. This group is partly funded by Didcot Town Council, Western Valley Parish Council and grant-giving trusts.
Home-Start Best Starts Group
Tuesdays 1pm-2:30pm
Great Western Park District Community Centre,
1 Gentian Mews,
Didcot,
OX11 6GR
Our Home-Start Best Starts Group is for parents and their child aged between 1-4 years. Join us every Wednesday for an afternoon of play!
Home-Start Best Starts is aimed at parents who find large groups intimidating, parents who may be suffering from anxiety or low confidence and parents whose child is not reaching certain developmental milestones or those who are concerned about their child’s development.
The group will provide a calm, safe environment with stimulating play experiences for your child and is a great way to meet other parents. You can also gain more tailored support from our Group Worker.
To attend this group, please submit a referral form below.
The words ‘referral form’ can sound a little official, but there’s nothing to worry about. This is simply a way for us to get to know a little about you and your family, so we can invite you to Best Starts and keep the group small with a maximum of 8 families. We know that large groups can feel overwhelming, so keeping numbers low helps us create the calm, welcoming environment that Best Starts is all about.
If you’d prefer to have a chat about the group first, our Group Worker, Annie, would be very happy to speak with you before you complete the form. Email us at admin@homestartso.org or call us on 01235 511152.
- Professional referral (e.g. GP, Health Visitor, Education etc.)
- Self referral
We do not charge a fee for this group. Our Home-Start Best Starts Group is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund Awards For All.
Testimonials
Thank you so much for providing us with some sanity in the first few months!
Your efforts in running such a varied and enjoyable group are very much appreciated
Thank you so much for all the support and encouragement from everyone at Home-Start and for Carol who has been like my very own fairy godmother.
Without Gill’s help I would not have coped or been able to carry on. Gill brought my little girl back to the confident one she was.
Become a Home-Start Volunteer Today
Home-Start’s team of trained volunteers make sure a child’s early years count. By volunteering just a few hours each week you can transform the lives of young children and their parents in your community.