Meet The Team
Home-Start Isle of Wight is an independent family support charity that was established in 1997 and since then has supported hundreds of families on the Island.
Sarah
My background includes Early Years Development, Therapeutic Parenting and Trauma-Informed Practice, which all influence the way I work with families.
Seeing children and families grow in confidence is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. I’m proud to work with colleagues who are united by a shared belief in the power of early support.
Anne-Marie
Hi, I’m Anne-Marie, the Bumps & Babies Co-ordinator at Home-Start Isle of Wight. I have many years of experience supporting children and families through roles in the NHS, schools, early years settings and private childcare. I joined Home-Start in 2021, initially running family groups and holiday activities, before moving into the Bumps & Babies project.
Today, I support families through home visits and baby groups, helping parents build confidence, make connections, and enjoy the early stages of family life. I believe every family deserves to feel supported, listened to and encouraged, and I’m passionate about creating welcoming spaces where parents and babies can thrive together.
Allie
Before Home Start, I spent almost 20 years working with young people in the Criminal Justice System, using Restorative approaches to help young people understand the impact of their actions on other people and how it might make them feel, these approaches were also used within the school environment.
These principles continue to shape the way I work with families now as I want them to feel acknowledged and listened to. I’m so lucky as I am privileged to be able to work alongside families and see them build their resilience, confidence and develop new skills and find their own solutions for them and their children. What I love about my role is that every day is different and it is so varied.
Claire
During my time at Home-Start, I was also fortunate to help run one of our family groups, giving me first-hand experience of the support we provide to children and families across the Island. That experience, combined with my work behind the scenes, has given me a real understanding of every aspect of the charity.
As a single parent of two children with additional needs, I understand how important the right support can be at the right time. I’m incredibly proud to be part of an organisation that brings together staff, volunteers, trustees, professionals, and supporters to help local families thrive. Seeing the difference that collective support can make is what makes my role so rewarding.
Tracey
After relocating my family to the Island, I joined Home-Start in 2022, looking for a meaningful part-time role that fitted around family life. As a parent of two children with additional needs, I understand some of the challenges local families can face and feel proud to be part of an organisation that offers practical, compassionate support.
Working at Home-Start has helped me feel more connected to the Island community, and I get great satisfaction from knowing that my role contributes to the support we provide for families across the Isle of Wight.
Adrienne
My role focuses on developing volunteering opportunities, supporting our volunteers and helping create positive, rewarding experiences for everyone involved. One of my favourite parts of the role is getting out into the community, meeting new people and sharing the incredible impact Home-Start has on local families.
I’m passionate about building connections through volunteering and supporting people to use their skills and experience to strengthen families, communities, and future generations. I’m incredibly proud to be part of Home-Start and to work alongside such a kind, passionate team.
Leanne
I’ve spent over 30 years working with children and families across a variety of settings, including schools and Beaulieu House.
Throughout my career, I’ve loved creating fun, engaging experiences that encourage children to explore, build confidence, and let their imaginations flourish. Helping children learn through play is something I’m deeply passionate about. I also love being there for families, offering practical support and encouragement as they navigate their own unique journeys. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing children thrive while families grow in confidence.
Alison
Now my job is very varied, and I can honestly say that no two days are the same! These days I get much less opportunity to spend time with parents and children, but it is always a highlight for me when I get to meet up with families.
I am very proud of the work we do here, the dedicated team of staff and volunteers and the difference they make to families every day.
Judi Griffin MBE
Patron of Home-Start Isle of Wight
A message from our Patron
“I’m Married to a dairy farmer and had five children within seven years, so fully understanding the hard work and stresses of bringing up a family. I was a magistrate on the Youth Court for 35 years where I learnt the desperate need for help with parenting. Home-Start demonstrates how invaluable it is to have a volunteer to give extra support. Home-Start is a wonderful organisation, and I am proud to be part of it.”
Judi
Home-Start IOW Trustees
Home-Start IOW is managed by a board of volunteer trustees.
Our trustees serve on the governing board and are responsible for directing the management and administration of the charity.
They have a wide range of duties and are responsible for making the charity effective, providing overall direction and maintaining sound management of funds.
Form left to right: Margaret Rylands, Liz Lloyd, Alison Griffiths, Maureen O’Flynn, Ali Grugeon, Ali Steer
Ali Grugeon
I’m a Home-Start Trustee, assisting with the organisation’s valuable work on the Island. I had four children in six years – including twins – so have huge empathy and compassion for new parents. I believe that those with young families can’t receive enough emotional and practical support.
So, if you’re a parent/carer in need of assistance then please don’t think twice about asking for a hand, there’s so much to be gained. And if you’re a prospective volunteer, unsure about stepping forward, then do contact the team. Home-Start staff and volunteers are kind, positive and practical people who want to make a difference to the families who need them. You won’t regret it!
Liz Lloyd
Liz moved to the IOW 17 years ago to bring up her 2 children, now adult, in a community by the sea. After working for a Bank in the Finance sector for 38 years, including becoming a Certified Accountant, she has taken early retirement and is now happily using her skills in the Charity & Care sectors.
She likes to be busy and after a friend drew her attention to Home Start IOW she discovered this rewarding charity. It helps families who need support while their children are very young and gives volunteers a tremendous sense of positive giving, making use of their life experience to pass on to the next generation.
She really enjoys both her roles as a home visitor and Treasurer Trustee citing, “It is wonderful to be able to give back. The whole team at Home Start IOW are brilliant, so supportive and encouraging. I love spending time with my matched family.”
She has numerous hobbies and interests including singing in Medina Community Choir, with which she has been lucky to sing at The Carnegie Hall in New York and goes on tour to Paris in the summer. She also sings in West Wight Choir.
She loves a challenge and will be walking the Coast to Coast (St Bees Head to Robin Hoods Bay) with a friend and family. You may see her out and about practising to get time in her boots.
Jane McKean
I was born on the Isle of Wight, worked at St.Catherines School ( Ventnor) before training as a Paediatric Nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital (London). I returned to the island, qualified as a Midwife, married, had 2 children and worked for 21 years in the SCBU/NICU. I retrained and qualified working as a Health Visitor until my retirement in 2024.
Whilst working as a Health Visitor I witnessed first hand the positive impact Home-Start had on the lives of families I worked with. So on retirement, volunteering for Home-Start was a “no brainer”. I wanted to do my bit to ensure that Home-Start I.W. continues to support Island families for the foreseeable future, as a Trustee and by helping in Baby and Family Groups, which I love.
Maureen O’Flynn
Maureen grew up in Ryde, and then left the island for 25 years. Like many others, she returned with her husband so that their children could benefit from island life. She has four adult children and has recently become a grandmother (much to her delight!). She now lives in Bembridge.
In the early part of her career, she was a secondary school teacher, working with children with special educational needs, in the more deprived areas of London and Bristol.
She then moved into the international aid sector, and has worked as a trainer/facilitator all over the world, mostly focusing on children and young people, and Children’s Rights.
She helps organisations develop realistic strategies and assess the impact of their efforts.
She is proud to be part of the Home Start family, and really believes that we can make such a positive difference to young children and their carers on the island.
Margaret Rylands
I have been a home-visiting volunteer for about 25 years, a Trustee for almost as long and Chair more recently.
I went to Island Volunteers when I moved back to the IOW and was sent to Home-Start and dropped in the deep end with three under-twos.
Since then I have had the privilege of supporting many families, with very differing issues, and have had lots of fun throughout as well. I’m sure my retirement would have been much less colourful and far more uninteresting without Home-Start and I hope to continue for a while yet.
Do get involved – you can really make a difference.
Ali Steer
Having been a Home-Start Volunteer with families on the Island I wanted to extend the ways that I could help due to the life changing support that I have seen Home-Start provide. Becoming a Trustee was one of the options given to me.Helping in this way is a real privilege and calls upon the skills I have acquired as a Primary School Teacher and mum of three grown up children, while allowing me to present a Volunteer’s perspective and extend my passion for raising Home Start’s profile on the Island. As the Trustees strive to enhance the provision for young children and their families, being a part of this is an exciting opportunity.
Tracy Hastain
I was asked to join the team because of my experience in business, marketing and communications and previous charitable work. I have always been passionate about giving a chunk of my time to supporting charities that make a real difference to people’s lives and Home-Start is such a charity. Listening to stories from volunteers, staff and parents absolutely blew me away and I knew I wanted to get involved. For me being a trustee at Home-Start Isle of Wight has been about becoming part of a team where we combine our resources and skills so we can continue to help and support as many families as possible not just today but way into the future.
Jane Bailey
Julian Young
Julian is originally from Southampton and has fond memories of family day‑trips and holidays to the Isle of Wight. For nearly 20 years, he has divided his time between the Island and work commitments elsewhere. His wife, Kylie, is an active HomeStart volunteer in Wandsworth, and their two adult children grew up enjoying the Island’s wonderful outdoor activities on both land and sea.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, Julian is passionate about supporting charities that improve the lives of children and families. He is proud to serve as a Trustee for HomeStart Isle of Wight, helping local families navigate the challenges of early family life. He is also Treasurer for Kinship, the UK’s leading charity for kinship carers — the relatives and friends who step in to raise a child when parents cannot.
