About Home-Start
Home-
Who we are
Home-Start Flintshire volunteers support families in a sensitive and flexible way. They share their time and friendship and work alongside parents, focusing on their strengths and offering families the opportunity to develop new relationships, ideas and skills. Supported parents are better able to engage in community life, to the benefit of themselves and their children.
We are suported by our umbrella organisation, Home-Start UK, on policy, training, information and personal support, enabling Home-Start Flintshire to respond to local needs. We are, however, an independent charity, responsible for all our own fundraising. We aim to help to reconnect and reintegrate families with their community. Children, parents and the wider community all benefit from Home-Start Flintshire’s work.
What we do
We provide support to families across the whole of Flintshire who have at least one child under the age of 11.
Volunteers are recruited, trained and supported to support families offering a unique mix of emotional and practical help.
All parents need help at sometime, and parents ask for help from Home-Start for one or more of the following reasons:
- Feelings of isolation
- Experiencing effects of ill health and/or disability
- Difficulties in managing the household budget
- Struggling with emotional health/depression
- Difficulties in managing children’s behaviour
- Bereavement
- Multiple birth
- Housing issues
- Stress associated with conflict in the family
Volunteers are carefully matched – linking the skills of each volunteer with the needs of the family. Our volunteers are friendly, approachable and give their spare time to provide encouragement, a listening ear and an extra pair of hands for a few hours once a week.
Areas we cover
We are based in Mold and cover the whole of Flintshire.
“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.
What we have to offer at Home-Start Flintshire
We always have different services on offer to the families of Flintshire. Our Groups are advertised on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HomeStartFlintshire95, with dates, times and the bookwhen link to save a place. If you would like more information about what we have on offer and what is coming up, please call the office on 01352 744060 or email admin@home-startflintshire.org.uk.
Pram Walks
Pregnant or recently had a baby, low mood, isolated and lonely, wanting to meet new parents. Gentle 30-40 minute walk in various locations throughout Flintshire with the option for a drink in a café at the end.
Baby Massage
A 5-week course for babies aged 0-12months old. This massage offers a wonderful experience and offers time to communicate both verbally and non-verbally with babies, so that they feel love, valued and respected. It gives parents/primary carers an opportunity to socialize with others and share their own experiences that may help others who are struggling.
Video Interaction guidance
Video interaction guidance (VIG) highlights and builds on attuned moments in parent-child interaction.
Parents view short positive moments of video of themselves interacting with their child and are the supported to identify their strengths and positive outcomes.
Big Hopes Big Future
Big Hopes Big Future (BHBF) is Home-Start UK’s unique school readiness programme.
The programme is a volunteer led support package that gives parents ideas and activities to help ensure they and their children are ready for starting school.
Home Visiting Support
All parents need help at sometime and a Home-Start volunteer will visit a family regularly, offering emotional and practical support to the family on a variety of different things they may be experiencing.
Volunteers have access to a variety of resources, such as books and toys, that can be used whilst they are supporting a family.
Stay and Play Groups
Our stay and play sessions offer a wide range of activities for children to explore and learn, such as, messy play, sand & water, small world, construction, role play and sensory play. It gives children the opportunity to socialize with others and make friends, helps to build their confidence and lets them have fun.
Bump, Baby and Me Group
Bump, Baby and Me Groups are small peer support groups for pregnant or new mums who are looking to build their social networks, isolated and/or lacking in confidence.
Groups aim to empower families, have a positive impact on social networks, provide a safe nurturing environment and a place to provide informtion so families can make informed choices.
1-to-1 Perinatal support
6 to 8 week package of suport for improving confidence, building self-esteem, helping to reduce isolation, providing listening ear, breastfeeding support, coping stratagies and support for parents experiencing mild mental health issues.
Current vacancies
If you are interested in any of these opportunities please contact 01352 744060 or admin@home-startflintshire.org.uk
Volunteers
Home-Start Flintshire’s team of trained volunteers make sure a child’s early years count. By volunteering you can transform the lives of young children and their parents in your community.
Our volunteers receive free induction and are given expert support in helping families from all backgrounds through their most challenging times.
By being a volunteer for Home-Start Flintshire you will:
- make a difference to parents and children facing great difficulties.
- give something back to your local community;
perhaps even return the support you once received from Home-Start.
As well as changing the lives of others, volunteering has a huge impact on the person giving their time. Research shows that our volunteers see:
- better health and well-being
- improved personal and skills development
- improved chances for work
- more self-confidence
Volunteering is a great thing to do if you are preparing to return to work or to progress your career – or simply if you just want to do something amazing with your spare time.
For more information about volunteering for Home-Start call 01352 744060 for an informal chat, or email admin@home-startflintshire.org.uk
Become a Home-Start Trustee
Home-Start Flintshire is an independent local charity and being a trustee is all about the governance of the charity. Could you help plan and oversee how we will support families in your community?
You’ll have a wide range of duties and be responsible for making the charity effective, providing overall direction and maintaining sound management of funds. If you have any of these skills:
- general business management
- financial or legal expertise
- IT knowledge
- human resources experience
- PR and media skills
- knowledge of family support issues in the community
then we’d love to hear from you.
To find out more email admin@home-startflintshire.org.uk
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Our staff
Sharon Windsor - Manager
Sharon initially got involved with Home-Start Flintshire as a volunteer back in 2010. She fell in love with the ethos of Home-Start and took the step to change the career she previously had as a civil servant. She has had a variety of roles within the scheme including administrator, organiser and now thoroughly enjoys her role as our manager. She is passionate about the organisation as she sees the difference Home-Start support can make to a family and the impact that early intervention can have on a child’s future. In Sharon’s spare time she is a recent convert to the world of campervans and loves taking off at the weekend to explore our beautiful countryside.
Ange Tattum, Project & Finance Officer
My main responsibilities are to provide project & finance support to the Scheme Manager and Board of Trustees. I have worked for HSF since May 2019 and have also been a Home-start Volunteer since June 2018. I deal with the day to day financial work and budget management. I support the Scheme Manager in sourcing and applying for new funding. I am also responsible for the monitoring of outcomes and targets of our various projects and reporting to Funders.Ava Carlon, Family Support Co-ordinator
I have worked for Home-Start, Flintshire as an Assistant Organiser since October 2018. I enjoy working as part of a team, providing support to families across Flintshire. I help to recruit, train and manage a wonderful team of volunteers who support our families regularly and offer them a listening ear, a wealth of parenting experience, access to resources and emotional and practical support through difficult times. I have 3 children of my own and in my spare time I love to read and watch movies.
Helen Loftus, Group Activity Worker
I am Helen, one of the group activity workers for HSF. I run stay and play sessions for Preschool children giving them many opportunities to build confidence, make friends and take part in different activities. We have lots of fun doing different themes each week and lots of messy crafts.
I started volunteering with HSF in April 2021, offering support to families over the telephone and is something I have decided to continue with, and am really looking forward to doing home visits.
I have always worked with children in a nursery and school setting, but when the opportunity arose to apply for a staff position with HSF, I jumped at the chance, and it was one of the best decisions I have made.
Outside of work I am always busy, with two children of my own aged 8 and 4. I love to go out for walks, spend time with my family and watch films with my children.
Lizzie Jones, Family Support Co-ordinator
Hi, I’m Lizzie, an Assistant Organiser at HSF since October 2018. My role is quite diverse and exciting – I play a part in the recruitment, training and supervision of volunteers, meeting new families, support planning and reviewing family support and have recently qualified to deliver The Solihull Approach – Understanding your child’s behaviour parenting group, something I am really excited about! I love meeting new families and have a passion for supporting families with new babies throughout the postnatal period. I am very sociable and enjoy getting out and about in the community, organising events and networking.
Outside of work I am very busy with my own large family. I love big long walks on the beach with my boys and reading when I get the opportunity! I have a very sweet tooth and need to be kept away from pic n mix!!
Sarah Hutchinson, Rapid Response Worker
Sarah was a volunteer with Home-Start Flintshire before starting as a Volunteer Coordinator in 2017, she now works as a Rapid Response Worker supporting families throughout Flintshire on a one to one basis with parents providing support and signposting. Sarah will be running the Family Links – Nurturing Programme with Diane very soon which provides adults and children with the understanding, skills and ability to lead emotionally healthy lives, build resilience, empathy, self-esteem and support positive relationships. In her spare time Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children, bootcamp with Sophie and playing for her local ladies football team.
Amy Saynor, Scheme Coordinator
My main responsability is to provide support to the Scheme Manager and Board of Trustees. I came into my role in June 2022, however, I was a volunteer with Home-Start Flintshire since 2018 whilst completing my degree in Public Health and Wellbeing.
Claire O'Kane, Volunteer Co-ordinator
I’m Claire, one of the Volunteer Coordinators here at Home-Start Flintshire. I’ve recently joined the team after working for the last 30 years in Health, Education and Training mainly working with children, families and staff from preschools, schools and healthcare settings. I have a passion for cooking and nutrition, and I am a registered Public Health Nutritionist.
My main role at HSF is to recruit, train and manage the wonderful team of HSF volunteers. Having volunteered myself for a range of charities and organisations over the last 20 years, I know just how important and valued volunteers are and what a rewarding experience it can be giving whatever time you can. I hope to support our new and long-standing volunteers to make the most of their volunteer experience and to guide them on their volunteering journey.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, walking my two lovely dogs and listening to music. I’m particularly enjoying a newfound interest in vinyl records!
Wendy Radley - Project Coordinator
I’m Wendy, I live in Flintshire and I’m passionate about helping people in the community where I live. I’ve worked for the past 25 years as a Teacher, Teaching Assistant and Pastoral Officer in Education, Training, Family Support and Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) with children, families and local councils, charities, pre-schools and schools. I’ve had the privilege of working in collaboration with many dedicated professionals from health, education and social care to support and improve the lives of local parents and children over the years.
Outside of work, I enjoy socialising with my lovely family and friends, walking my two pampered woofers, gardening and reading.
Our trustees
Home-Start Flintshire has a varied Board of Trustees who oversee the management and strategic development of the scheme.
Joyce – Chair since 2015
Joyce has worked in the public sector all her working life and is now retired. Prior to retiring, she was Chief Executive for Careers Wales in North East Wales employing 100+ staff. She brings the following skills to the Board – strategic planning, leadership, and experience of working with Welsh Government. She is now busy volunteering; current volunteering roles include – Chair of an Adoption Panel, Home Support volunteer for Home-Start, Flintshire, 1:1 support for children in our village school, Community café volunteer, telephone buddy support and responsible for the children and young people’s work and safeguarding in her church. In addition she has 5 children and 7 grandchildren.
Christine Sheibani
Marjorie Thomson
Initially I joined Home-Start Flintshire in 2007 when I completed the full training in order to become a Volunteer. I was linked to 3 families over a period of 2 to 3 years. This gave me an understanding of families in stressful situations. I gave up being a Volunteer about 10 years ago as I wanted to spend more time with my young grandchildren. I then became a trustee and have attended Personnel, Finance and Board meetings regularly since that time. I am now the Safeguarding Trustee on the Board.
I have a Master of Education degree linked to Liverpool University. I worked in Education for over 35 years, initially as a Primary Teacher then as a Headteacher for over 14 years. I then worked as a part-time University Tutor for both the University of Chester and the University of Cumbria. It was at that time that I became involved in the Voluntary sector in Flintshire.
I have been a trustee of FLVC for 13 years. I was Chair of the Board for three years and have also chaired the Personnel committee for several years. I am a member of the Finance and General Purposes committee and currently attend the Strategic Planning meetings.
As a trustee of FLVC I was nominated as the Community member of the Coleg Cambria Board. In that role I have served as Chair of the Land based Committee. I currently serve as Chair of Audit and Risk and am a Link Governor to the Services to People Directorate. I am also a member of the Search Committee and the Remuneration Panel of the Board. I have served on the Appointments Panel which appointed the new Chief Executive Officer, the new Deputy Chief Executive Officer, People Experiences and Culture and the Principal.
I have been a Generalist Adviser for Flintshire Citizen’s Advice Bureaux. I am currently a trustee of Age Connects North East Wales which supports older people within the community.
I am a member of Gwernymynydd Community Council, where I live, and have served as Chair for 3 years previously. I represent the Council on the One Voice Wales National Executive as a member of the Finance and General Purposes committee. One Voice Wales is a national organisation able to represent all communities in Wales. I represent Flintshire at the North East Wales meetings. I also serve as a member of the Rural Development Partnership and attend the Local Action Group meetings within Flintshire.
I believe that the Voluntary sector has an extremely important role to play within the community. This has been amply demonstrated over the last few months when volunteers and staff responded admirably to help in so many ways to alleviate the problems brought about by Covid -19. My knowledge and skills encompass – Child Development, Safeguarding, Finance, Personnel issues and an understanding of the local Community.
Raymond Lloyd-Jones
Raymond is an experienced leader and management consultant. He most recently worked as a senior manager at Careers Wales. He joined Home-Start, Flintshire as a Trustee in 2016, having previously been Chairman of the Bremex Trust.
Raymond has an MA in Manpower Studies from the University of Westminster. He has served on various volunteer committees and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Raymond’s key strengths are in business planning, organisation development and stakeholder participation.
Martin McCormick
Martin began volunteering part-time for Flintshire Foodbank during 2020 and now manages the warehouse on their behalf. He became a Foster Carer for Flintshire County Council in May 2021 and was appointed as a Trustee for Home-Start Flintshire in July 2021. He is also hoping to train as a volunteer for HSF over the coming months and is looking forward to getting actively involved. Martin is married with four children and in his spare time enjoys long distance running.
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.