Home-Start is one of the UK’s leading family support organisations and is now working in 15 other countries Who We Are

loneliness and isolation family breakdown post natal depression poverty ill health inc HIV/AIDS and disability domestic violence multiple births mobility/refugees The Need

Where do the referrals come from? Health Visitor 50% Social Worker 15% Self 20% Other Health Referrals 5% Other 10% UK approximate figures

Volunteers offer: friendship emotional support practical help...to families in their own homes Schemes also offer group support and refer to other agencies How We Help

Home-Start research findings 16 studies – mainly qualitative or not randomised/control – positive findings Recent JRF study (McAuley and Knapp) – no differences between H/S and control group

Responding to challenging findings Should Home-Start change its methods ? Should researchers use different tools to measure broad brush/holistic interventions? Research issues