Home-Start Suffolk is urging people across the county to offer their time to support families in need this Volunteers’ Week.
The charity provides essential practical and emotional support to families with at least one child under 12 across Suffolk.
From April 2024 to March 2025, Home-Start Suffolk supported 1,400 families across the county.
Esther, a Home-Start Suffolk volunteer, says that helping families make positive progress makes her volunteering worthwhile.
“I volunteer with Home-Start as my son was diagnosed with autism. As a parent this was a lonely and challenging time. A volunteer to talk to would have been invaluable.
“If I can help a family take a step in a more positive direction, then my time volunteering has been worthwhile.”
Each family is matched with a suitable volunteer and a bespoke package is created for them depending on their needs. Support is provided through weekly visits and calls or group work.
Charlotte, a supported parent said: “My volunteer was amazing.
“She made me see I was always doing the best by my children and showed me how great of a mum I am.
“She was kind and so easy to talk to. She gave me guidance on anything I asked.”
Volunteers are there for families as they find their way through all kinds of challenges, including social isolation, poverty, illness, mental health, bereavement, family breakdowns and domestic abuse.
Volunteers receive high-quality training, which can be completed in the evenings or during the day, as well as ongoing support. Care is taken to ensure the volunteers, who come from a diverse range of backgrounds, get a good match, too.
Referrals to Home-Start Suffolk have become more complex, meaning the charity has had to create a waiting list for support in some areas of the county.
The need is really increasing,” said Tara Spence, chief executive officer at Home-Start Suffolk.
“We pride ourselves on offering vital early intervention before a family reaches crisis. If we do not have volunteers, we are not able to provide support when families need it.
“If a family needs our support, they don’t need it in eight weeks’ time – they need it now. Therefore, we need more volunteers now.”
Home-Start Suffolk not only changes the lives of supported families, but also the lives of their volunteers. In 2021, Home-Start Suffolk volunteers were recognised for their incredible work by being awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Services – the equivalent of an MBE for volunteering.
There are a wide range of volunteering opportunities available at Home-Start Suffolk that can suit any time and level of commitment people may have. People can volunteer to support families in person or remotely via telephone or help with one of the many group sessions organised by the family support charity.
Whether you can give a few hours a week or more, your time will be truly valued. To find out more about volunteering for Home-Start Suffolk, call 01473 621104 or email volunteer@homestartinsuffolk.org.
Call our team on 01473 621104 or click here to find out more.