APPLY NOW to be a home-visiting volunteer
Welcome to Home-Start North Somerset
Home-Start North Somerset offers free, confidential support, friendship and practical help to parents in North Somerset. Being a parent, whatever your situation, can be very difficult, especially when children are young.
Many parents feel exhausted and overwhelmed by the stresses of family life, particularly if they have little support from family and friends when they need it most. For some parents it’s a particular struggle because they are also having to cope with issues such as post-natal depression, their or their child’s illness or disability, isolation or multiple births.
That’s when parents need support. That’s when Home-Start North Somerset can help. We are an early years support charity and in order to receive help from Home-Start North Somerset you must have at least one child under 5 in the family.
A carefully selected volunteer, who has parenting experience themselves, regularly visits a family, in their own home, offering emotional and practical support through difficult times for as long as it is helpful or needed.
This friendly parent-to-parent support is a simple yet effective way of enabling families to get back on track.
Please take a moment to browse through the pages of this website to find out more about our service.
To find out more about Home-Start North Somerset’s unique parent volunteer service, how to become a home-visiting volunteer or how you could offer your time by becoming a trustee or fundraiser for the charity please see our Volunteering page.
Get Support
Being a parent can be lonely, frustrating & overwhelming. If you need support, give us just a few details and we will contact you.
Volunteer
By volunteering a few hours each week you can transform the lives of young children and their parents. We’re recruiting now – join us!
Refer someone in need
If you are a health visitor, family support worker or other professional working with families, we’re ready to respond to referrals.
Latest News
New volunteers in training
Our latest volunteer preparation course is underway. Our nine new trainees attend six sessions which will prepare them for providing the best possible support for our families. Topics include safeguarding, values and attitudes, and meeting the needs of children. Very...
We’re seeking new Trustee with safeguarding knowledge
Do you have safeguarding experience? Could you spare a few hours a month to support us as a Trustee? Our Trustees perform a vital role overseeing the effective running of Home-Start. We’re looking for new Trustees to join our Board - in particular, we need someone...
“I would have become increasingly isolated without this group.” One mum’s Home-Start journey
For mums struggling with the transition into parenthood, some gentle support and the chance to make connections with other mums can make the world of difference. Our support groups offer a range of ways for mums to find the help they need. This is the story of one mum...