Home-Start Wakefield is the only Home-Start scheme operating and supporting families in the Wakefield District.  Home-Start Wakefield & District was formed in June 2005 from the merger of 2 schemes - Home-Start Wakefield (set up in 1991) and Home-Start Castleford & Pontefract (set up in 1993).  In September 2006 following the closure of Home-Start Hemsworth and South Elmsall, Home-Start Wakefield & District covers the whole of the Wakefield Metropolitan District.

What Home-Start offers

• A volunteer with parenting experience to visit parents with young children at home. The volunteer offers regular one-to-one support, usually on a weekly basis.
• Emotional support to help parents find ways to manage and resolve problems.
• Direct support for children including playing, listening, having fun, establishing routines, encouraging development and providing opportunities for outings and treats.
• Practical help with getting to appointments, doing the shopping, budgeting, nutrition and meal planning, cooking and making the home safe.
• Family groups so parents can get out, meet others, and become more involved in their own community.
• Information to other organisations.

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 5. 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

Home-Start wants to see a society in which all parents have the support they need to give their children the best start in life.

Quality Assurance

Our work is reviewed every 4 years.  This gives us an opportunity to see how well we are providing services and to ensure we are operating in accordance with our national Home-Start quality standards.

Complaints and Compliments

Home-Start Wakefield & District strives for high standards in service delivery and welcomes feedback from anyone we work with.  Such feedback is invaluable in helping us to evaluate and improve our work. If you wish to provide a compliment on the service you have received, you can do this either by e-mailing the Scheme Manager on hazel@homestartwakefield.org.uk  or ringing us on 01924 251205. If you are dissatisfied with any element of the service, you may make a complaint.  If possible, this should be made in writing either by letter or on a complaints form available from the Home-Start office.  Complaints may also be made via e-mail or verbally.  If you e-mail your complaint, this should be sent to the Scheme Manager using her confidential e-mail hazel@homestartwakefield.org.uk