Our services include:

• Home-visiting volunteer support
• Family support groups
• Baby and toddler groups
• Community activities and events
• Signposting to other local services

Services may vary depending on current funding and demand.

Please visit our Contact page or call the office for our current opening hours.

Sometimes. Acceptance depends on our current needs, storage capacity and the condition of items. Please contact us before bringing donations to the office.

Families come to us for many different reasons, including:

• Feeling isolated or lonely
• Low confidence or poor mental health
• Parenting challenges
• Adjusting to a new baby
• Multiple births
• Disability or additional needs
• Family illness
• Bereavement
• Relationship difficulties
• Lack of local support networks

Our support is tailored to each family’s circumstances.

Yes. We welcome self-referrals. If you feel you would benefit from support, please contact us directly or complete our referral form here

Please try using a different browser or device and ensure all required fields are completed. If the problem continues, contact us by phone 01983 533357 or email admin@homestartiow.org and we will provide an alternative way to make a referral.

Once we receive your referral, one of our Coordinators will contact you to learn more about your family’s needs. We will discuss the support available and, where appropriate, arrange for a volunteer or group support.

No. Support from Home-Start is always voluntary. We will explain what we offer, and you can decide whether you would like to receive support.

Many parents feel this way. If you are finding family life difficult, you deserve support too. Early help can prevent challenges from becoming bigger problems, and reaching out is a positive step.

If you are wondering whether to ask for help, we encourage you to get in touch. Many of the families we support have good days and difficult days. A friendly conversation with our team can help you decide what support might be right for you.

No. All Home-Start support is free.

Every family is different. The length of support depends on your family’s needs and goals. This will be discussed with you during the assessment process and reviewed regularly.

Home-Start currently only supports families with at least one child under the age of 5 however there are other services that may be able to help. The Isle of Wight Family Information Hub is a good place to find out what support may be available to you. If you are still unsure, please contact us to discuss your circumstances and we will advise what support may be available.

Yes. While many of our services focus on families with children under five, some support may still be available. Please contact us to discuss your situation.

We aim to support as many families as possible. However, support depends on eligibility criteria, service capacity, volunteer availability and whether we are the most appropriate service for your needs. If we cannot help directly, we will try to signpost you to other organisations.

Support may end when your agreed goals have been achieved, if your circumstances change, or if another service becomes better placed to support your family. We will always discuss this with you.

That’s absolutely fine. Please let us know and we will discuss your options with you.

We take concerns seriously. Please contact our office and we will listen to your feedback and follow our complaints procedure to address any issues.

Our volunteers are carefully recruited, trained, supervised and matched with families. They are friendly, understanding people who want to make a positive difference. We work hard to find a volunteer who is a good fit for your family.

There is no upper age limit for volunteering with Home-Start Isle of Wight. What matters most is that you are caring, reliable and committed to making a difference. Home-Visiting Volunteers must be aged 18 or over as they work directly with families. However, some of our other volunteer roles are open to young people aged 16 and over, including administration, fundraising, events and project support.

You do not need formal qualifications. We are looking for people who are caring, reliable, non-judgemental and understanding. Life experience, empathy and a desire to help others are often the most important qualities.

No. While many of our volunteers have parenting experience, we also welcome people with caring experience, professional experience, or valuable life skills who want to support families.

No. All volunteers complete our Volunteer Preparation Course before they begin supporting families. The training helps ensure volunteers feel confident, supported and prepared.

Training dates and formats vary throughout the year. Our Volunteer Preparation Course is delivered over several sessions and covers topics such as communication, safeguarding, confidentiality, family support and understanding children’s needs.

For home-visiting volunteers, we typically ask for a commitment of around 2–3 hours per week and ideally at least six months to provide consistency for families.

We aim to match volunteers with families in a location that is reasonable and manageable. We will discuss travel requirements with you before any placement begins.

Not necessarily. We will discuss your availability and preferences with you before any new match is arranged.

The length of placements varies depending on the family’s needs. Many placements last several months, although this can vary.

You will have regular support from your coordinator. If any concerns arise, we will work with you to find a solution and provide support throughout the process.

Yes. We offer ongoing training, support sessions, guest speakers and social opportunities so volunteers can connect, learn and support one another.

Yes. Volunteers receive training, regular supervision, support from staff and ongoing opportunities for learning and development.

Some volunteering opportunities may be flexible, although most home-visiting support takes place during weekdays. Please talk to us about your availability.

All volunteers complete a safer recruitment process which includes references, interviews, training and an Enhanced DBS check before working with families.

Yes. Agreed travel and volunteering expenses are reimbursed.

We are happy to provide references for volunteers who have actively volunteered with us and fulfilled their role responsibilities.

A member of our team will contact you to discuss the role, answer any questions and explain the next steps, including training and recruitment checks.

We ask volunteers to complete a simple diary or visit record after each visit. This helps us monitor support and ensure families are receiving the help they need.

Volunteering does not guarantee employment. However, many volunteers gain valuable skills, confidence and experience that can support future employment opportunities.

We occasionally offer student placements depending on our capacity and the requirements of the course. Please contact us to discuss your needs.

We occasionally recruit volunteer trustees to help guide the organisation. If you are interested in using your skills and experience to support Home-Start Isle of Wight, please get in touch.

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us:

Email: admin@homestartiow.org

Call: 01983 533357