Home-Start Merton

Background information to the work of Home-Start

Home-Start Merton was set up in 1993 to support vulnerable families in Merton. We are proud to be part of a network of Home-Start schemes across the UK. Merton like all other Home-Start schemes, is an individual charity and operates autonomously under the direction of our Board of Governors. We also became a limited company in 2005. We have an excellent reputation locally and are proud of our achievements to date.

Our Manager is retiring at Christmas, after 20 years in post and we are looking for a dynamic individual to replace her with effect from January 2014. The post-holder will work under the direction of our Board of Trustees in driving forward the strategic vision for our organisation as set out in our Business Plan 2012-2015 and to oversee and lead our staff team in the day to day operational function of the organisation.

Like so many charities, Home-Start Merton is operating in an ever increasingly challenging environment. Public spending cuts are hitting hard and we are looking for a post-holder with the vision, creativity and ability to source both statutory and charitable trust funding to secure the longer term funding needed to ensure our service continues to function for the benefit of local, vulnerable families in Merton.

! Fact !

FAMILY BREAKDOWN IS COSTING BRITAIN

£30 BILLION A YEAR

One in four children under five in the UK has difficult start in life, because their families are under pressure. Yet every child deserves the best possible start in life; to be loved, to play, to learn, and to grow in confidence. When this happens in a happy, secure family, a child’s health, schooling, and life prospects all improve.

Core Belief

Home-Start Merton believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents play the key role in giving their children a good start in life and helping them achieve their full potential.

Our Mission Statement

Home-Start Merton exists to enable families experiencing stress or difficulties to meet the needs of their children under the age of five

We offer a unique service and recruit and train volunteers who are usually parents themselves to visit families at home who have at least one child under 5 and offer them informal, friendly and confidential support.

To help give children the best possible start in lifeHome-Start Merton supports parents as they grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children and widen their links with the local community.

Home-Start’s non-stigmatising approach to supporting families whilst working in close partnership with other agencies serves as a strong bridge between the family and statutory services. This is a particular strength of Home-Start for families who are resistant to statutory services entering into their lives. Volunteers and staff supporting them through this process helps to reduce their fear and anxiety and often misunderstanding of what lies ahead.

The Home-Start Approach

To Home-Start every family is special and we respond to each family’s needs through a combination of home-visiting support, group work and social events.

Like all Home-Start schemes we are firmly rooted in the local community that we serve. We are managed locally but supported by the national organisation. This offers direction, training, information and guidance to schemes and ensures a consistent and quality support for parents and children wherever they are.

Home-Start has proven, lasting, positive impact on the development of children and health and welfare of the family.

Our Vision

Home-Start Merton wants to see a society in which every parent has the support they need to give their children the best possible start in life.

Home-Start believes that parents play the key role in ensuring that children have a happy and secure childhood, but even the most dedicated parents can face challenges that prevent them doing all they want for their children. We support parents as they grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children and widen their links with the local community.

Our committed and caring volunteers, who are usually parents themselves, offer friendship and informal support to parents with young children under five during difficult times in their lives. They visit families at home and are friendly, approachable people who are relied on and trusted by parents to listen without being judgemental, and to respect the needs of each individual family.

Home-Start – because every parent should have the support they need to give their children the best possible start in life

Home-Start works because it is simple- one parent supporting another parent through a difficult time for whatever that reason might be .This in turn has proven, lasting and positiveimpact on the development of their children and health and welfare of the family.

Read what some of our families say:-

 “It felt hard to ask for help at first but once the volunteer started to visit,I wished I’d done it years ago.”

 “She was my light at the end of a long dark tunnel.”

“I would have gone under without her.”

 “My 5children would definitely have been taken into care if I hadn’t had Home-Start support.”

Starting from the basis of our established volunteer delivered service we have been commissioned by the London Borough of Merton to deliver a new enhanced project in line with their current priorities for supporting families across Merton.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT OUR WORK.