Because childhood can't wait.

Asking for help often takes courage. With over 50 volunteers and five staff, over 100 local families each year improve their lives through working with us. To us, every family is unique. Each one has different circumstances, different dreams and hopes for the future. We’re there supporting and empowering – meeting need and led by family choices, their journey and their goals.

Our team ethos is one of choice, partnership, openness, encouragement, flexibility, responsiveness and enjoyment.

Here for York since 1988, our charity has supported hundreds of parents and children over those 33 years. Your gift can help us reach more. With the COVID pandemic still detrimentally impacting our funding streams, your support is really valuable in sustaining our work for local families.

“I really struggled with my baby as she was born in lockdown. Not being able to have my family or friends visit absolutely destroyed my confidence so when I was referred to Home-Start York by my health visitor it really gave me hope. The lady who supported me each week was so kind and patient. She really listened so I didn’t feel so alone.” One of the parents our volunteers support.

We asked our volunteers why they give so much time to support the families we work with. They told us they help families to keep their heads above the water. That their work often saves families from falling into the costly social services safety net, saving families from distress and saving precious public money.

They are powered by a belief that “when someone feels invisible in today’s society, the very act of another person giving their time to listen to their voice is the powerful beginning for change”.

Please support us if you can. Your gift, large or small goes a long way, is appreciated and changes lives. Having a Home-Start York volunteer support in a society where normality is no longer normal and families are struggling with isolation, loneliness, increased mental health issues combined with the worries of making ends meet and feeding their kids is very much valued. Home-Start York volunteers offer support and stability and that voice to be heard when it feels like the world isn’t listening.

Your donation will help sustain our work. We'll put it towards everything from keeping our volunteers fully trained and supported in their roles, to paying the costs of them travelling to weekly home visits, staff meeting with parents to set up and review their needs, or our work with NHS, council and charity referrers to make sure we can reach those who need us.

Thank you for your generosity.