Home-Start Bracknell Forest
There for parents when they need us most, because childhood can't wait
Home Visiting
Home-Start Bracknell Forest may be able to help by offering you support from a home-visiting volunteer. To be eligible for our help you must:
- live in the borough
- have at least one child under 5
- need a little extra help
There are many reasons why you may choose Home-Start. Perhaps you are:
- feeling isolated, maybe with no family nearby or struggling to make friends
- suffering with post-natal depression
- having a hard time coping with your child’s illness or disability
- affected by the death or serious illness of a family member
- struggling with emotional and practical demands of twins, triplets or young children
- finding it hard to cope with relationship difficulties
- feeling exhausted or depressed
- coping with your own illness or disability
A carefully selected and trained volunteer, who has parenting experience can visit you regularly for 2 hours a week in your own home. Our volunteers are there to offer emotional and practical support. Our support is confidential, flexible and responsive to your needs and can include:
- being a listening ear
- adult company
- helping and playing with your children
- giving reassurance
- helping you to find out about and access other local amenities and services
- giving encouragement and motivation
- giving practical help
Here’s what some of our Families who have had support say……
“I had just had a traumatic birth and couldn’t get out. After all the visitors had gone, I felt the world was closing in and I was losing my mind. Then Home-Start came along; I got a volunteer and came to the group and had a place to socialise and feel ‘normal’ again. You saved us, so thank you!”
“Thank you so much for all your help and support….. the virtual meetings, the phone calls and my meetings with my volunteer. You have kept me going and lifted me up when I didn’t know who else to turn to. I am so grateful to know I’m not alone”.
“I don’t think Helen realises how much she is helping. She is so delicate, gentle and caring – she reminds me of Miss Honey from Matilda! I couldn’t ask for anyone better to support me.”
“My Volunteer is my support bubble and her visits give me something to look forward to each week”
“The team came into our lives when we needed them most! You taught me how to develop my self confidence, supported me when I attended groups and gave me time and patience! But, more importantly, I felt truly cared for by everyone! You made me feel like I had an army of supporters! You do the most incredible job and we can’t thank you enough for giving us our lives back!”
“It has been challenging to get to classes/ groups with triplets and a 2 year old – I am really keen to do this, and can’t do it alone. As prem multiples, socialisation is so important in their development – I couldn’t do this without Margaret.“
Self Referral
If you are a parent looking for support, please fill in and return the self-referral form found below.
More about referrals
Our Family Coordinator will arrange to visit to discuss what issues your family is having to deal with, what support is needed and how we may be able to help you. Home-Start Bracknell Forest is an independent and confidential volunteer service – we only support you at your request.
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