Home-Start East Surrey

We train and support volunteers to support local families with young children in their own homes every week for up to 6 months. We run play sessions, a nurture group and parenting courses to enable families to flourish and thrive.
Home-Start East Surrey
Home-Start East Surrey (HSES) is the only voluntary organisation that provides home visiting support to struggling and vulnerable families across East Surrey including Redhill, Reigate, Horley, Tandridge, Dorking and the surrounding areas.
For almost 29 years, we have been helping parents of children under five learn to cope with challenges, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children. We have recently expanded our remit to also work with families who have primary school-age children, up to 11. Our vision is that we enable families to flourish and thrive.
We take a “whole family approach”, providing support which addresses all of a family’s needs instead of focusing on a single issue. We aim to help families improve their resilience before problems become severe and entrenched.
- We support families facing multiple challenges such as family breakdown, disability, physical or mental health issues, post-natal depression, having one or multiple new babies, isolation, bereavement and financial hardship.
- We help parents cope by supporting them in the face of difficult family relationships and children’s behavioural problems. We help them to establish routines and access services in the community.
- We assist families experiencing abuse and domestic violence which threaten the integrity of the family unit.
Our work is conducted via our 43 locally based volunteers, who visit families in their homes for 3 hours every week to provide emotional support, mentoring and practical help. Home visiting enables them to build trust and gives a greater insight into each family’s needs and circumstances.
Your Impact
Alongside our volunteer support programme, we also run parenting courses and support groups for mothers who are at risk of postnatal depression or are experiencing isolation and anxiety. During 2023-24 we supported 200 families in total through all these activities, including 337 children.
£1500
To support a family once a week for 3 hours for 6 months
£87
Enables a parent to attend a 10 week parenting course 'The Nurture Programme' positively impacting children by improved parenting skills
£90
Supports a parent with post natal depression and low mood attend our weekly Nurture Group for one year (12 months) for advice, support and reassurance.