How to get help from Home-Start Herefordshire
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, heart breaking and over-whelming. Anyone can face tough times and that’s why Home-Start Herefordshire is ready to support families like yours.
Home-Start Herefordshire support is:
- completely free – you do not have to pay for anything.
- entirely voluntary – you ask us for help.
- on your terms – you decide what kind of support suits you best.
- non-judgmental – we’re here to listen.
- focussed on giving you skills and confidence to be the parent you want to be, and to make family life better.
- compassionate, confidential and individual.
How to get help
We know it’s hard to admit when you need help, but sometimes asking for help is the bravest thing you can do. It can show great strength and demonstrates that you want the best outcome for your family.
Please get in touch to discuss your situation and how we can help you. Click on the ‘Help for me’ button below to download our Self Referral Form. Please complete the form and return it to us by email admin@HSHerefordshire.onmicrosoft.com One of our coordinators will get back to you to talk about your needs.
Please note that support is dependent on volunteer and coordinator capacity. All of our support is confidential.
If you are a professional or other third party seeking to refer a family, click the ‘Help for someone else’ button below to download our Professional Referrer Form.
The Family Journey
Once a support request is received, a coordinator promptly contacts the family. A personal visit to the family’s home is then arranged to get to know everyone. During this visit, the Home-Start Herefordshire approach is explained, and questions will be asked to help plan support that meets the family’s unique needs. Information regarding confidentiality and the protection of personal data will also be shared.
Next, a volunteer will be carefully selected and matched to the family. This selection process involves considering the family’s needs and the volunteer’s skills and experiences. All Home-Start Herefordshire volunteers receive home support, confidentiality, and safeguarding training. A match visit is then arranged, where the volunteer is introduced to the family. Families are encouraged to share whatever information they feel comfortable providing; the more the volunteer knows, the better they can assist. The volunteer will then visit for 2-3 hours once a week on a weekday at a time that works for everyone.
The volunteer’s support extends to the parents/carers/guardians and the children both within the home and outside, such as during the school run, appointments, visits to the park or shopping, whatever is needed. After each visit, the volunteer writes notes and emails them to the coordinator.
Support from Home-Start Herefordshire can last up to six months, depending on the family’s needs. Throughout this period, the coordinator will arrange regular review visits with the family to ensure they feel supported and not isolated. The coordinator will also maintain communication and meet with nurseries and schools if needed.
At the end of support, Home-Start Herefordshire encourages families to have a fun final visit with the volunteer, which benefits everyone, especially the children. The coordinator will complete a closing visit to provide reassurance and information on future support options if needed.
Home-Start Herefordshire groups
Not all of our support and work happens in the family home. When that’s not right for a family, or where we are helping to address isolation and loneliness, create wider network and connections, building relationships and confidence, our groups are often a great way to get the help you need in the right environment. It is possible to receive support at home and in a group, start with a group and transition to home support or use a group as a transition period as home support reaches a conclusion.
Kington Family Group
The group is free and run by our group and outreach coordinator Tam, with help from our dedicated group volunteers.
Our group can help parents/carers to overcome isolation and loneliness, build relationships and confidence and often a great way to hear about other local support.
Once a week we meet up to do crafts, messy play, singing and story time. Sometimes we go out for buggy walks along the river or around Hergest Ridge or pop into town to a local community cafe.
The group is for local parents and children aged 5 or under during term time. Sometimes we organise meet ups in the school holidays when older children are welcome to come along with their young siblings and parents.
Parents/carers can refer themselves or someone who supports and knows parents already can refer on their behalf, e.g. Nursery, Health Visitor etc.
What our families say
Our volunteer helped me with strategies around routines including help with bedtimes and eating. She helped with cooking, supporting me at meetings, and making sense of what was being said.
Since volunteer has been visiting our granddaughter, we have seen a marked improvement in her behaviour, she has flourished when cooking, reads more, and is generally very excited and looks forward to the visits.
My son looked forward to the volunteer visits; he enjoyed the physical activities they did together, something that I can’t do due to my long-term health problems. It was so beneficial for my son to have a positive male role model.
Volunteer related well as she had a real in-depth understanding of my daughter’s additional needs. The support gave my daughter confidence and helped her feel more able to access other services and activities.
Volunteer is so kind and caring, she makes me feel ok, she listens to me and helps me to tackle my problems together. The children also love her visits.
I would like to extend a big thank you to all involved at Home-Start Herefordshire for their hard work, passion and commitment.
Children’s Feedback
I liked talking about our lives
We went out on adventures ‘bug hunting!’ she did lots of silly fun things and liked running around with me and reading me stories
Our volunteer is very nice
I liked everything we did
I liked baking cupcakes
The volunteer was very helpful to our family; we are very grateful
We had a lovely time it was lovely knowing her
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.