Our members provide free support and practical help when families struggle in the early years of parenthood. Support that is based in the local community and delivered by trained volunteers who are parents themselves, so it can be perfectly tailored to the needs of that family.
Our members tend to be structured in a similar way, with a small paid staff who oversee the organisation and have a close relationship with us.
There are Co-ordinators too, who manage the day-to-day service delivery and a team of volunteers. Most of their volunteers are parents themselves, and they live in the communities they support.
This structure can apply to a whole country, and can also be replicated across many smaller regions, cities and towns within that country. It is a simple model; easily expanded and without excess. Everything is focussed on providing the best support possible to as many children as possible.
In some member countries, this model acts in partnership with another organisation or service, or it sits within the other organisation entirely, to form part of a wider programme of family services. This is not only testament to how embedded Home-Start schemes are in a community, it can also provide stability and mutual sharing of expertise that, thanks to our membership network, can benefit other Home-Start members across the world.
Organisations that share the Home-Start values and model of support can apply to join our global network.
Membership is built on mutual trust, shared standards, and a commitment to learning together. We work alongside prospective members to understand their context, support their development, and ensure they are well connected into the wider Home-Start community.