Family support
We can offer you family support in a variety of ways, sometimes it is just about getting out of the house and meeting new people to socialise whilst your child is learning new skills and becoming school ready. However now and again we all need a little extra support as a child’s early years are critical to their future.
The five years between birth and school are vital for a child’s development. What goes on inside a family strongly determines the opportunities and life chances children have.
Children who are raised in a stable, loving, family environment are more likely to have a positive and healthy future. Home Start will offer help to families with young children deal with the challenges they face. They support parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children as all children deserve the best start in life.
Home Start deliver a variety of services to support families these are:
Referral based family support
This service is provided for families resident within the Newcastle borough with at least one child aged 0-5 years. Generally the support is provided in the home, although Family Support can be provided in group sessions, for example parenting classes.
Families maybe struggling with post-natal depression, isolation, physical health problems, bereavement and many other issues receive the support of a volunteer who will spend around two hours a week in a family’s home supporting them in the ways they need.
Proactive home visits
Two Proactive Home Visits are provided or eligible families when their children are 5-8 months and 13-22 months. These visits are to provide information, advice and guidance and any help that is needed to access services.
Parenting programmes
Evidence based parenting programmes are delivered. These programmes are tailored to meet the needs of the family and proven to provide better outcomes for families. Information can be found in the Children’s Centre Activities Menu (link to this on the FSD).
Bookstart
This is a learning and literacy programme for babies and children and is designed to encourage parents to share stories and rhymes with their children, especially those who, through lack of confidence or other reasons, find it difficult to read with their child/children.
Contact Us
To find out more about what Home Start can do to support you visit their website https://www.home-start.org.uk or contact them on 01782 938912 or email info@hsnb.org.uk.