Having a friend can be one of the most enriching and supportive relationships in a person´s life and it can easily be taken for granted. At Home-Start Spelthorne we value friendship. Home-Start Spelthorne is a local charity which supports ordinary parents in Spelthorne who are going through extraordinary times.

Being a parent, whatever your situation, can be very difficult at times, especially when children are young. Many parents feel exhausted and overwhelmed by the stresses of family life, particularly if they have little support from family and friends, just when they need it most.

Home-Start Spelthorne supports parents who have at least one child under 5 and who are dealing with issues such as:

• Isolation
• Mental health
• Sickness
• Disability
• Domestic abuse
• Multiple birth
• Difficult relationships

For some parents it’s a real struggle because they also have to cope with difficult situations like post-natal depression, illness, disability, relationship issues or multiple births.

A carefully selected volunteer who has parenting experience, will regularly visit a family in their own home, offering emotional and practical support through difficult times. This parent to parent support is a simple yet effective way of giving hope and enabling families to get back on track.