About Home-Start Merton
Home-
Who we are
Home-Start Merton exists to enable families experiencing stress or difficulties to meet the needs of their children from conception to five years old.
- We offer a range of support including our core service of a 1:1 family support volunteer supporting parents with children 0-5 years old.
- Our perinatal service, Bumps to Babies, supporting expectant parents in the first 1001 days.
- Our counselling service for families supported by Home-Start Merton.
- Our groups which support parents and children’s wellbeing.
Helping families in Merton since 1993
Families helped
Children supported
Volunteers
What we do
Home-Start Merton is a registered charity, third sector organisation with highly trained volunteers and staff to offer regular support, friendship and practical help to families. We support families with children 0-5 years and parents who are pregnant and have perinatal mental ill health. We help to prevent family crisis and breakdown, whilst emphasising the pleasures of family life.
Home-Start Merton recognises the diversity in families and respects race, cultural and religious traditions. All relationships are based on good communication, respect and trust. The relationship between the Home-Start volunteer and the family is established by choice.
Areas we cover
Home-Start Merton supports families living in the London Borough of Merton.
“Home-Start raises self-confidence, improves social networks, reduces difficult behaviour on the part of the child and improves mental and physical health” – Every Child Matters Government Green Paper.
Case Studies
Finding Strength Through Support: Hannah’s Journey with Home-Start Merton
When new mum Hannah found herself overwhelmed, exhausted and isolated after the birth of baby Arthur, Home-Start Merton stepped in with a lifeline of care and connection. With the gentle support of a dedicated volunteer, a welcoming parent group, and help accessing essential resources, Hannah gradually found confidence, community, and joy in her role as a mother. Her journey is a powerful reminder that no parent should face those early days alone.
Single Parent
Mum was 40 years old and had a good career in advertising. She planned her life and career which did not include getting married or having children....
Cook and eat
Mum telephoned the office as she had spoken to the social prescriber attached to her GP surgery. She had explained how she was feeling and was...
The Home-Start Network
Local Home-Start’s support the community and borough they are situated in. Home-Start Merton is an independent charity and is part of the federated network of Home-Start’s operating across the UK, supported by the national organisation, Home-Start UK which offers training, information, and guidance and ensures quality support for parents, carers, and children. Please take a look at their website for more information on Home-Start as a network.
Projects
Bumps to Babies
Perinatal ill mental health is one of the leading causes of death for mothers from conception and up to 2 years old. Between 10 and 20% of women...
Counselling
Samantha Maxwell MBACP I am a qualified counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. As part of...
Current vacancies
If you are interested in any of these opportunities please contact us
Home visiting volunteer
Home-Start Merton supports families across our communities who have young children and are facing difficulties, making sure a child’s early years count.
Our Volunteers are trained and given expert support from our staff team so that they can provide the best support for parents and their children.
Through a careful matching process, Home Visiting Volunteers can build a strong and trusting relationship with a family they may go on to support for many months.
We help families from all backgrounds through their most challenging times and just a couple of hours a week can transform the lives of parents and their children.
Our Volunteers provide non-judgmental, compassionate and confidential support, giving families the right help at the right time and in a way that suits them.
By volunteering your time and experiences for just a few hours each week you can even change lives, including your own. We know from research the benefits to our volunteers; in developing new skills, building confidence and relationships and also supporting training and placements for work and study.
Download our Volunteer Leaflet for more information
Fundraising Volunteer
If you have a few hours a month and feel you want to make a real impact on your local community and local families, this is a role for you!
Make a difference today.
The current economic climate means that more families are struggling than ever and we need your help to raise vital funds to make a difference to the lives of local families. Working collectively as a team, fundraising volunteers will help the staff team to plan and carry out fundraising events and establishing local fundraising partnerships with local businesses.
A little bit about you:
- Enthusiasm to work collaboratively as part of a small, ambitious team
- Excellent communication and relationship management skills
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritise
- Proactive with a positive can-do attitude
- Friendly and approachable; honest and trustworthy
A little bit about the role:
- Raising awareness of Home-Start Merton and the work we do with families, establishing relationships with the local community and local businesses and organisations
- Recognising fundraising opportunities; Making introductions to key community figures, groups and networks (e.g., MP’s, mayors, golf clubs, tennis clubs, rotary clubs)
- Using your network, hustle and passion to bring your fundraising projects to fruition
Your time commitment
- We would love you to join the team for an initial 6-month period, enough time to work together on at least one fundraising project, partnership, or event.
- We anticipate 1-2 hours of your time a week
Our Staff
Our staff are responsible for the delivery of our services and strategy.
Together, they ensure we’re here for families when they need us most, that our volunteers are trained and supported and that our service remains effective, reaching as many in our communities as possible.
Irene Drivilas - Managing Director
Irene is an accomplished senior leader with over 25 years’ experience across family, youth, adults, addiction, homelessness, accommodation, and mental health sectors.
Irene is recognised for her strategic leadership, strong governance expertise, and ability to deliver high-quality, client-centred programs that achieve meaningful and measurable outcomes. Throughout her career, she has successfully led multidisciplinary teams, managed complex government-funded contracts and budgets, and driven service innovation and continuous quality improvement. She also brings extensive experience in safeguarding, clinical governance, and stakeholder engagement, building strong partnerships across health, community, and government sectors.
A values-driven leader, Irene is deeply passionate about early intervention, strengthening families, and supporting vulnerable communities. Her leadership style fosters collaboration, accountability, and staff wellbeing, enabling teams to perform at their best while delivering impactful services.
Outside of her professional role, Irene is a proud mother of two, has shared 26 years with her partner, and is the owner of Roger, her much-loved Labradoodle.
Having relocated from Sydney to London in 2024, Irene is excited to bring her experience and passion to Home-Start Merton and to contribute to supporting families across the borough.
Contact: irene@homestartmerton.org
Reiya McKenzie-Selassie - Family Support Coordinator
‘As a mother and someone who understands the importance of having strong family support, my experiences that have led me to Home Start are in supporting early years development and supporting children and their families from diverse walks of life. I am passionate about the needs of children and empowering parents, so together we can create positive outcomes. Joining the team in 2025, I intend to build trusting relationships with families and volunteers, listening to their voice and connecting them with the right support to thrive’.
Contact: reiya@homestartmerton.org
Silvia Romani - Business Support Administrator
‘Born in Italy, and a mother of 4 now living in Merton, I understand the importance of having a strong community, a village! My journey to Home-Start Merton began as a volunteer, fuelled by a desire to connect with others and give back to the community. This led me to join the team in 2024 with the desire to bring my administrative skills and experience to support local families’.
Contact: admin@homestartmerton.org
Our Trustees
Our Board of Trustees, like other volunteers, give their time and experience to make our organisation the best it can be.
Our Board is responsible for setting the direction of our organisation, strategic decisions, governance, legal compliance and leadership. Working closely with the Manager and the staff, Trustees are essential to the operation of our charity.
Anyone interested in bringing their skills and experience to our Board is invited to make contact with us to discuss any opportunities or to express an interest in future vacancies please email: admin@homestartmerton.org
Clare Courtney – Chair of Trustees
Clare is the Deputy CPO at Finastra
Clare is mother to four boys, living in Wimbledon and is passionate about helping organisations to be more successful.
She works as a HR Director and is currently deputy CPO at Finastra (a global financial services software company), previously working with major organizations like BT and Vodafone. Clare originally trained as a civil engineer and is a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE) as well as a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (FCIPD).
Clare has spent many years supporting her local primary school with their PTA as well as being a STEM ambassador and for a number of years the Chair of the Industrial Advisory Board for University of Leeds School of Civil Engineering.
Adam Flacks - Deputy Chair of Trustees & GDPR lead
“I moved to Merton in 2018 and have been struck by the great sense of community in the area. I am a Solicitor, specialising in litigation. I became a Trustee of Home-Start Merton at the end of 2020, after I read about the charity’s work and achievements. Home-Start Merton is a fantastic organisation to be a part of, and I hope to be able to help the dedicated and hard-working staff and volunteers to continue to deliver such a valuable and necessary service.”
Diane Holmes - Deputy Chair of Trustees and Treasurer
“The Borough of Merton has been my home since 1998 where I live with my husband and teenage son, and I think it is a great place to raise a family. I have worked as a Risk Manager in a large organisation for over 20 years focusing on insurance, health and safety, business continuity and crisis management and hope that my business administration skills can contribute to the continued success of Home-Start Merton. I was delighted to join as a Trustee at the end of 2020 and I look forward to doing all I can to help this fantastic organisation, and the dedicated staff and volunteers to achieve its aims in supporting local families.”
Vikrant Bhuskute - Trustee & EEDI lead
Vikrant is an HR professional with 25+ years’ experience in large multinationals, and has lived and worked in 4 countries. He is presently working with BT as Strategic Reward Director for the Consumer, Openreach and Networks businesses. He has a family history of social service in the area or women empowerment, and youth development.
Daniel Lawrence – Trustee
“I have been a trustee with Homestart Merton for 6 years. I joined the board because I wanted to do something to connect with the local community and I have stayed because of the incredible people and the difference that the team makes to people’s lives everyday. I have been a civil servant for 10 years and lucky to work on a range of policy issues such as housing, law enforcement and culture. I have experience of finance, governance and policy to contribute to the board, adding to breadth of experience on the board of trustees.”
Marian Ridley - Trustee & Safeguarding Trustee
“Merton has been my home since 1996, and the place where I have brought up my 3 now adult children. I’ve spent the past 35 years running NHS services, with the past decade dedicated to hospital and community health services for children and families in inner London and across the south east of England. I have seen the vital role played by Home Start, and so am delighted to have become a Trustee in March 2023 and to have the opportunity to use my skills and experience to support the fabulous work of the Home Start Merton team of staff and volunteers, particularly at a time when there are so many children and families for whom they can make a real difference.”
Liana Sanzone – Safeguarding Advisor to the Board of Trustees
“I have been a social worker since 2002 and currently work in a professional capacity with the children’s charity, Young Lives vs Cancer. I have experience in working as part of multidisciplinary teams throughout my career, with particular multidisciplinary work involving oncology and bereavement services, as well as court work and therapeutic work. My experience also includes child protection work, therapeutic group-work specific to domestic violence issues, integrative therapeutic group-work, group facilitation with social work professionals, work with children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and residential work. I have been an advisor, and previously a Trustee, with Home-Start Merton since November 2017. I enjoy supporting Home-Start Merton, it’s valued presence in the community, and the high-standard training and support Home-Start Merton provides its volunteers who do a remarkable job supporting families in need.”
Trudie Goodwin- Patron
“I’m so delighted to be involved with Home-Start Merton. The support they give to families in Merton is desperately needed and the atmosphere at the office is always welcoming, friendly and relaxed. What an enormous amount has been achieved – thanks to the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of everyone involved. Home-Start is now an absolutely integral part of life in Merton. Home-Start Merton has become a lifeline for so many families in the area and such is its reputation that more and more people are being referred to them.
Long may it continue.”
Baroness Sheehan - Patron
Baroness Sheehan joined Home-Start Merton as a patron in 2023.
Become a Home-Start Volunteer Today
Home-Start’s team of trained volunteers make sure a child’s early years count. By volunteering just a few hours each week you can transform the lives of young children and their parents in your community.
Please provide a CV with your application.