About Us
Home-Start Worldwide envisions a world in which all children thrive with the support of their local community. A registered charity since 1999, it facilitates the global Home-Start network spanning 22 countries and five continents. Through its community-based model, trained volunteers offer crucial support to families in need, enhancing parenting skills and providing emotional and practical guidance. This approach, proven over fifty years, tackles issues like social isolation, parenting stress, and child behaviour difficulties while strengthening community ties.
Home-Start Worldwide ensures quality delivery, safeguards, and impact assessment while expanding into new regions, particularly low-income countries in Africa. By promoting universal standards, sharing resources, and providing training, it advances the strategic vision of Home-Start, to reach and support more vulnerable children and families worldwide.
“I look forward to the day my volunteer comes. She helps me with the children, reminds me of all the things I need to do like paying my bills and keeping appointments. But best is having someone to talk to. We talk about ways to cope. She makes me feel stronger.”
Parent, Home-Start UK
What We Do
Resource and Knowledge Sharing
Establishing New
Members & Countries
Data Collection
Research
Safeguarding & Other Policy
Monitoring & Quality Assurance
Training & Development
Triennial Conference
Home-Start Worldwide (HSW) serves as the coordinating hub of the Home-Start international network, supporting organisations in 22 countries across five continents. Established in 1999, HSW upholds Home-Start’s standards, provides policy guidance, and fosters the exchange of best practices while aiding the model’s expansion into new territories. Our overarching goal is to ensure that families worldwide have access to the support of trained Home-Start volunteers. We offer training and developmental guidance for trustees, staff, and volunteers, ensuring universal quality standards and policies such as safeguarding are upheld.
At the heart of our mission is the collaboration among national organisations, facilitating training, sharing best practices, and fostering resilient operations to reach more vulnerable families effectively. Through these efforts, we strive to strengthen the capacity of Home-Start organisations globally and extend support to those in need.
“In communications, Home-Start Worldwide has provided us guidance from an expert and has further helped in connecting the network members with new social media and working groups. In this way, we are saving time and as a network we are building international standards in communication that further ensures the quality of our work.”
Evi Hatzivarnava Kazasi
Chair of Home-Start Hellas (Greece)
Who We Are
Home-Start Worldwide is a small but highly focused team led by CEO Kirpal Dhadda
Our Team
Kirpal Dhadda
CEO
Georgia Pierce
Fundraising Manager
Tanya Carus Blacher
Digital Communications
Our Board of Trustees
Joan van Niekerk
Chair
Oliver Hickson
Deputy Chair
Ricky Maloney,
Treasurer
Jacqueline Barnes
Board Member
Neel de Bruyn
Board Member
Reka Hegedus
Board Member
Remenda Grech
Board Member
Ton Kragten
Board Member
Yukie Yamada
Board Member
Advisors
Alžběta Candia Muňoz
Advisor
Craig Wheelan
Advisor, Technology
Sheena Stewart
Advisor
Our Model
The Home-Start model of support focuses on providing personalised, in-home assistance to families with young children, particularly those experiencing difficulties or challenges.
The core components of this model include:
Trained Volunteers
Home-Start recruits and trains volunteers, who are often parents themselves, to offer practical and emotional support to families. Volunteers undergo rigorous training and support to ensure they can effectively assist families in need.
Home Visits
Volunteers visit families in their homes, providing a comfortable and familiar setting for support. These visits typically occur weekly, though the frequency can be adjusted based on the family’s needs.
Tailored Support
The assistance provided by volunteers is tailored to each family's unique circumstances. This can include emotional support, help with parenting skills, assistance with household tasks, guidance in accessing local services, and support in building social networks.
Professional Coordinators
Our Home-Start Coordinators are essential, providing professional support to both volunteers and families. They ensure volunteers are well-equipped with thorough training and ongoing support and work closely with families to offer personalised guidance, making a lasting difference in their lives.
Early Intervention
Home-Start aims to offer support early on, before problems escalate, to prevent crises and improve long-term outcomes for children and families. The focus is on early intervention to foster a stable and nurturing environment for young children.
Family-Centered Approach
The model is based on building trusting relationships with families, respecting their autonomy, and working in partnership with them to identify their strengths and areas where they need support.
Community Connection
Home-Start helps families connect with local resources and community services, promoting integration and reducing isolation. This can involve providing information about playgroups, health services, educational opportunities, and more.
Building Confidence and Skills
Volunteers work with parents to build their confidence, develop parenting skills, and enhance their ability to manage their family life effectively. This empowerment approach aims to create lasting positive changes within the family.
Non-Judgmental Support
The assistance provided by Home-Start is non-judgmental and confidential, creating a safe space for families to express their needs and concerns without fear of stigma or criticism.
Safeguarding Commitment
At Home-Start, safeguarding children is our top priority. We are committed to creating a safe, nurturing environment where every child is protected, and families receive the support they need to ensure their well-being.
Overall, the Home-Start model is characterised by its personalised, volunteer-driven support, its focus on early intervention, and its commitment to fostering strong, self-sufficient families.
Several studies have shown the positive impact of the Home-Start model, including a three-year project in 2015 by the University of Amsterdam.
Our History
Home-Start was founded in 1973 in Leicester, England, by Margaret Harrison.
Harrison was inspired by her volunteer work with the Family Service Units and recognized a need for early, informal support for families to prevent crises.
Home-Start was established in Leicester, England, with the first volunteers providing practical and emotional support to families in their homes.
The organisation expanded rapidly across the UK. By the end of the decade, there were over 200 local Home-Start schemes operating.
Home-Start began to extend its reach internationally. The first international scheme was established in Australia in 1989, followed by Ireland, Northern Ireland, and other countries.
Continued expansion and consolidation. Home-Start International was formed to support the global network of Home-Start organisations, ensuring consistency and quality of support.
The organisation focused on increasing its impact and evidence base, undertaking various evaluations to demonstrate the effectiveness of its model. Home-Start also adapted to changing social and economic contexts, ensuring its services remained relevant and effective. Home-Start International was restructured to become Home-Start Worldwide. Margaret Harrison remained life president until her passing in 2015.
Home-Start continues to grow, leveraging technology and new approaches to support families. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of their work, as many families faced increased challenges and isolation. In 2023 Home-Starts around the world celebrated their 50-year anniversary.
Today, Home-Start operates in numerous countries, helping thousands of families each year through its network of local schemes and volunteers.
