HomeStart (Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster)

We support ANY family living in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea who needs us, provided there is at least one child under five, or a baby on the way.  Rich or poor, settled or transient; there are times when we all need support and friendship but do not know where to turn.  Our trained volunteers visit weekly to help to give encouragement, emotional support, practical help, or assistance with accessing local services. We use a person-centred, empowering approach which models positive parenting and helps families in different areas of their lives, including finances, housing and relationships etc.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you are a family that could use our support.

Volunteer for HomeStart 

We are looking for people who:

• have parenting experience, experience with young children or comparable life experience
• want to help and support local families
• can commit to attend our Volunteer Preparation Course and spare 2-3 hours a week on a regular basis

As a befriender, you will be carefully matched with a local family, offering them personalised, flexible, non-judgemental support and friendship. Your role as a befriender will vary depending on the family’s circumstance. You may be supporting them to manage the pressures and develop the skills they need to cope. You may spend time with a young parent helping them to build their confidence as they adapt to life with a small baby or support a family who finds it difficult to get out of the house. You might provide an extra pair of hands to a family with several children or provide a listening ear to a mother who is suffering with postnatal depression.

Our volunteer training programs run four times a year in January, May, September and October. The course runs on Wed- Fri 3 weeks.

For more information contact Toni on 020 7724 1345 or at [email protected]