Home-Start Wessex is a charity that provides support to families with young children who are experiencing difficulties. It offers volunteer-led, practical, and emotional help to parents facing challenges such as isolation, mental health issues, financial stress, or relationship problems. Our mission is to help families build resilience, improve well-being, and ensure children have the best start in life.
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Home-Start Wessex is a local charity dedicated to helping families with young children who are facing difficult circumstances. Founded on the belief that every child deserves a strong start in life, the charity provides a unique, volunteer-led service that supports parents and caregivers who are experiencing a range of challenges. These can include poor mental health, postnatal depression, disability, domestic abuse, bereavement, isolation, financial hardship and multiple births.
Our Mission:
At the heart of Home-Start Wessex is a commitment to creating a safe, supportive space where families can thrive. We believe in the power of community and peer support. Volunteers who have experienced parenthood themselves visit families in their own homes to offer practical and emotional help. Whether it's providing a listening ear, helping with daily tasks, or guiding parents to access relevant services, our volunteers are there to walk alongside families and empower them to overcome their challenges.
Our family support groups provide a safe and welcoming environment where parents can come together to gain new skills, boost their confidence, and make lasting friendships. Held across Dorset in community spaces and homeless shelters, these groups offer a non-judgmental setting where parents can connect with others facing similar challenges, share experiences, and access practical support. Parents find the strength and resources they need to improve their well-being and create a positive future for their families.
Our services focus on building resilience in families and improving the well-being of children, with the ultimate goal of giving every child the best possible start in life.
Real story:
A dad with a little boy under two was left on his own after mum recently committed suicide. The flat was in mum’s name, so dad received an eviction notice. He was also left in a great deal of debt that had been run up from the mum. He had to give up work as he couldn’t afford nursery due to one of the debts of £4K to the nursery. He feels like prisoner in his own home as the neighbour would tell the mum’s family when he was out, and they would enter the property and go through his things. Unable to change the locks due to the tenancy and eviction notice. He felt very isolated with no family or friends to support him. Home-Start Wessex helped him through his eviction and into safe stable accommodation with signposting to assist with continued support. He said of our volunteer, “I think my partner sent you to help us”.
Dad has been so grateful to have someone to talk to as he processed his guilt and grief. Home-Start has helped him connect with other single parents and build up a positive support network to help him continue to progress. He said he can’t believe how helpful Home-Start has been and he can’t wait to be at a point when he is able to give back in some way.