Home-Start Stroud and Gloucester
There for parents when they need us most,
because childhood can't wait
We have expanded our services into Gloucester
We are now reaching families in the Stroud District, Quedgeley and Gloucester.
Now the whole of Gloucestershire can access Home Start support through 3 schemes, please see Home-Start Gloucestershire consortium for local contact numbers.
Home-Start Stroud & Gloucester have been commissioned to expand their services and in January 2020 we broadened our area to include the city of Gloucester.
We were funded to do this as part of Gloucester County Council’s Early Outcomes Project, Home Start Stroud and Gloucester are helping families create a positive environment to support children’s early learning. Our support takes place in the family home where every day learning takes place. From building language skills and creating space to learn to daily routines and taking turns, we build confidence and reassurance to help parents and children prepare to start school.
What does this mean to local families:
In a nutshell, we can offer one to one, personalised support to parents with children under the age of five; reaching out to families at risk of social exclusion, including those who do not engage with other services. Support is offered by a trained home visiting volunteer for as long as is necessary.
Our Best Start (postnatal support) group, Bump Start (antenatal Support) and Mothers in Mind (perinatal) groups will be running, for more details please visit the Group Start pages.
What does this mean to local people:
This is an opportunity for local people who have parenting experience to become involved in supporting local families. We offer a free forty hour training course to prepare our volunteers. We also offer regular ongoing support and supervision throughout a volunteer’s commitment to the Home-Start role.
There is also an opportunity for local people who know their community to become members of our Trustee Board to help develop and run this new service. We encourage wider social and support networks and opportunities for increased engagement in community life. Please see the doit.org website for current opportunities.
What does this mean to local professionals working with children from pre-birth up to five years:
Professionals working with families in Gloucester City and Quedgeley will have access to an outreach home visiting service to support local families who have at least one child under the age of five.
You can locate referral forms on the Referrals page and information about seeking support can be located on the Getting Support page or you can go to the contact us page to find various ways of contacting us.
We are really happy to come and talk to any group or attend any meeting to give more information about ourselves and the support that we provide.
Our first year of funding has been provided by the Gloucestershire Early Years Service and ongoing funding through the Peter Lang Trust.
Next: Mothers in Mind