The Home-Start network consists of Home-Start UK and 180 affiliated local Home-Starts. Together they form the Home-Start service, delivering one-to-one support, friendship and practical help to families with young children.
Home-Start UK
All local Home-Starts are supported by Home-Start UK. Home-Start UK is an independently registered charity that provides the support that local Home-Starts need to carry out their family support work through: up-to-date training for staff, volunteers and trustees; information and guidance on governance; legal and human resources advice; help with fundraising; lobbying of national and local government and funders; running volunteer recruitment campaigns; providing national quality standards; supporting community groups to set up new local Home-Starts and representing Home-Start nationally, regionally and locally.
Local Home-Starts (schemes)
Each local Home-Start is an independently registered charity that supports local families in exactly the way that is needed in its local community. Each local Home-Start is set up and run by people from the local area, and is responsible for raising all its own funds. The (usually) small local staff team recruits and trains local volunteers and carefully matches them with local families who need support. Each local Home-Start is managed by a board of volunteer trustees. The constitution of a local Home-Start is based on a nationally agreed model, adapted for local circumstances.