How to get help from Home-Start Merton
All parents struggle at one time or another. For some, the challenges can be greater. You are not alone.
Support from Home-Start
All referrals are processed and considered by Scheme manager.
Home-Start Merton works with and supports families and children 0-5 that are struggling in the London Borough of Merton.
Home-Start Merton works with, and supports families and children 0-5 that are struggling in the London Borough of Merton.
Issues may include but are not limited to:
- Loneliness and isolation
- Relationship difficulties
- Coping with a new baby
- Ill health, disability or special needs
- Lone parenting
- Postnatal illness
- Children’s behavioural problems
- Domestic Abuse
- Mental Health
- Perinatal mental ill health
We recruit and train 1:1 family support volunteers to work alongside parents In times of stress. The family support volunteers work towards increasing the confidence and independence of parents by offering both practical and emotional support.
Family support volunteers are carefully matched with a family to support parents to meet the needs of their children.
Please note we are not funded to support families with children on a child in need or child protection plan.
Refer to us
Support is regularly reviewed with parents to ensure parents are empowered and that they end support with a positive experience, and renewed confidence.
Core Service
Our trained family support volunteers offer regular one to one support, friendship, and practical help to families and children under 5, for around 2 hours a week, in their own homes, helping to prevent family crisis and breakdown whilst emphasising the pleasures of family life.
Perinatal Service
Our perinatal service is for families who are currently supported by the specialist Perinatal Teams at St Georges’ Hospital, St Helier Hospital, Kingston Hospital, Springfield hospital and Health Visitors. Support is offered to expectant (First 1001 days) and new parents with low level mental ill health. This service includes home visiting.
Group Support
We provide weekly groups during term time for parents and children who are supported by Home-Start Merton. Group support is through a referral only. The group is not a drop in group.
The groups are a safe environment which encourages socialisation, peer support, activities, and a lunch. This group is for parents and their little ones from pregnancy up to 5 years old.
Counselling
Counselling is offered to parents currently supported by Home-Start Merton. Parents struggling with their wellbeing are offered one hour weekly sessions for 8 weeks.
We cannot accept external referrals for counselling.
Education Service
Home Learning champions: There are two parts to the education service. Firstly, our volunteers are trained to support children with reading and fun activities. With the parent present and books provided to the family This helps children with English as a second language, Special educational needs, and encourages children to appreciate the joy of reading.
Big Hopes, Big Futures: This is Home-Start’s school readiness programme for children from 18 months. We offer strategies and suggestions on managing children’s behaviour, routines, early literacy development, with the aim of the child being nursery/school ready. Weaning, toilet training, bedtime routines, the importance of breakfast every day. Parents are sometimes not ready for their child to go to playgroup, nursery or school and we support the parent to enable them to support their children’s education.
Referral Criteria:
- Families experiencing difficulties
- Expectant parents with perinatal mental ill heath
- Children, Pre-birth to 5 years
- Families must live in Merton
How to get referred:
- Talk to your GP or health visitor
- Talk to the social prescriber based at your GP surgery
- School
- Any other professionals you may be working with
- Self refer
Professionals and practitioners can access a referral form by clicking the button below.
If you would like to self-refer, please contact the office on 0208 646 6044 for an informal chat and more information.
We are accepting referrals. We are providing home visiting support.
Incomplete referrals will not be accepted.
The first 1001 days of a child’s life is pivotal to development. The videos show and describe how Home-Start offers
support to new parents and how our support allows for early connections and bonds to flourish.
Feedback & Testimonials
“I feel motivated to work through my problems and get through the day. Without a volunteer I felt I couldn’t cope with the demands of three under fives at home. Therefore it really helps to have a volunteer.”
“I find Home-Start Merton a brilliant idea. It is a great help and support for anyone in my situation. I would like to express my appreciation towards the staff for being so kind and understanding.”
“I felt the support given to my family was excellent. I had a very good relationship with my volunteer and she encouraged me as a mum and individual and gave me positive feedback. It helped me get through a hard time in my life. I would definitely use the service again if I was having difficulties in my life.”
“As a mother of twins I received support from Home-Start Merton when the boys were 5 months old. I had been finding things very difficult I was diagnosed with post-natal depression and my husband’s work was mostly in the evenings. A volunteer came to help me one evening a week, to help with bath and bedtime routine, by which time I was very exhausted after a long day. We have all, as a family, found our volunteer very supportive. Thank you Home-Start.”
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.