About Home-Start
In an ideal world Home-Start wouldn’t be needed. But for many parents the pressures of family life are simply too much to cope with alone. There are so many reasons for this including -poverty, illness, family breakdowns, isolation, addiction and physical and mental health issues.
And this is where Home-Start steps in…
Home-Start in Suffolk aims to give children the best possible start in life. We support parents to grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children, improve their Health and wellbeing and widen their links locally.
The Home-Start Approach
Home-Start schemes are rooted in the community they serve. We are managed locally but are supported by a national organisation, Home-Start UK, which offers direction, training, information and guidance to schemes and ensures consistent and quality support for parents and children.
Home-Start has a proven, lasting, positive impact on the development of children and the health and welfare of the family.

Our Mission
Home-Start offers a unique service. We recruit and train volunteers, who are usually parents themselves, to visit families at home and offer them informal, friendly and confidential support. The families we help have at least one child under 12.
To help give children the best possible start in life, Home-Start supports parents as they grow in confidence, strengthen their relationship with their children and widen their links with the local community.


Our Vision
Offering support and friendship
Visiting families at home, where the dignity and identity of individuals can be respected and protected
Developing relationships with the family in which they gain time to share their thoughts
Encouraging parents’ strengths and wellbeing for the benefit of their children
Encouraging families to widen their network enabling them to access support and services
Encouraging and providing practical assistance to ensure that parents are attending required health appointments for themselves and dependents.
Patrons

Stephen Foster
Miranda Kendall

Libby Purves
Staff

Tara Somers
Executive Manager

Alison Grant
Lead Co-ordinator
Peter Lenz
Senior Administrator

Fiona Weller
Co-ordinator Ipswich South & West

Eve Goody
Income Generation Coordinator

Natalie Highland
Coordinator Ipswich NE & Coastal

Alison Watson
Income Generation Coordinator

Louise Potter
Finance Officer
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Sarah Holmes
Administrator Martlesham

Charlotte Nowosad
Administrator Martlesham


Senga Macro
Co-ordinator Central & South Suffolk

Sharon Ashton
Senior Co-ordinator Lowestoft & Waveney

Jane Farrow
Co-ordinator West

Kirsty Bailey
Co-ordinator Lowestoft & Waveney

Vikki Gant
Co-ordinator Central & South Suffolk

Rae Darnell
Administrator Beccles
Trustees

Rob Thacker
Chairperson

Diane Milan
Director

Helen Taylor
Director

Bob Taylor
Vice Chairperson & Safeguarding Advisor

Helen Clarkson
Director & Fundraising Lead

Elise Dyball
Director

Linda Phelan
Treasurer

Steve Flory
Director

Annual Reports
Click on the files below to view our annual reports.
Independent Evaluation on Home-Start home-visiting and family group services by Steve Allman Consultancy.