Home-Start is one of the UK’s leading family support organisations and is now working in 15 other countries

www.home-start.org.uk

www.home-start-int.org

Who We Are

• loneliness and isolation

• family breakdown

• post natal depression

• poverty

• ill health inc HIV/AIDS and disability

• domestic violence

• multiple births

• mobility/refugees

The Need

Where do the referrals come from?

• Health Visitor 50%

• Social Worker 15%

• Self 20%

• Other Health Referrals 5%

• Other 10%

UK approximate figures

Volunteers offer:

• friendship

• emotional support

• practical help

...to families in their own homes

Schemes also offer group support and refer to other agencies

How We Help

Home-Start research findings

• 16 studies – mainly qualitative or not randomised/control – positive findings

• Recent JRF study (McAuley and Knapp) – no differences between H/S and control group

• Responding to challenging findings

• Should Home-Start change its methods ?

• Should researchers use different tools to measure broad brush/holistic interventions?

Research issues