Support from Home- Start
Befriending is offered at times of stress by trained volunteers who work towards increasing the confidence and independence of parents.
Being a parent has never been easy. It can be lonely, frustrating, heart breaking and overwhelming.
Life-changing events can happen to anyone. That is why Home-Start is ready to support families through their toughest times.
Every Home-Start volunteer is trained to work alongside you to help you to overcome the challenges you are facing. We work with you to build on your strengths and give you the support that you tell us that you need.
How to get help from us
Home-Start support is completely free, you do not have to pay for any of our support and it is entirely voluntary.
It might be suggested to you by a health visitor, a doctor or another professional but it is entirely up to you if you want to work with Home-Start.
We are very experienced in matching families with volunteers who we think will understand your situation and be able to work with you. If either you or the volunteer is not happy you can end the relationship and try another match.
All of our support is confidential. You don’t have to tell anyone that you are being supported by Home-Start, and we will never tell anyone else unless you say that we can.
The online form will transfer all relevant details straight to us in the office for processing.
Volunteer Befriending
Home-Start Peer Support Service
Home-Start offers one-to-one home-visiting volunteer support to any family living in Wakefield who has a child under twelve who is not in full time school. Our volunteers are carefully matched to a family and visit them once a week for 2-3 hours providing both practical and emotional support. Our support is unique and tailored to the needs of each individual family and all of our volunteers have parenting experience themselves, either through their own children or through work or studies. Volunteers are introduced to the family by a paid Coordinator who will supervise the volunteer and monitor the support to ensure it meets the family needs. Some families may prefer to have phone support or attend one of our groups.
Alongside this we run regular activities and social events for our supported families and volunteers where you and your children can come along and meet other families. Your children get the chance to play, learn and have fun with other children and you get the chance to meet and talk to other parents. Many parents discover they are going through the same kinds of experiences and feel less alone
Perinatal Mental Health peer support for parents of 0-2yrs
In her role, Jo provides emotional and practical support to families in their own home, signposting and accompanying to services/groups, access to parenting courses
We understand it’s hard being a parent and the range of emotions that go along with such a big responsibility but we also know that there is loads we can do to form secure attachments with our children and help them build their brains from the day they are conceived.
Jo also facilitates our Twins and Multiples group in partnership with Susie from the PAIR Peer Support Team and this is working well. Jo plans in group visitors to provide education and support for families, e.g. The Hepworth Wakefield, Oral Health and the PAIR Peer Support Team to provide information on child development.
Laura SEND & Behaviour Support
The service accepts referrals for families in Wakefield & five towns who need support to:
· Improve child’s behaviour- build resilience and coping strategies, bonding with parent, enjoy play, social interaction with peers and other adults.
· Reduce isolation through support to enable access to social activities and health appointments.
· Improve child’s health and wellbeing to include healthy eating and exercise, self-awareness
Laura’ provides weekly sessions of 1:1 support for parents and children in the family home. We know there are always too many things to do when you have lots of appointments and a child’s extra needs to attend to. She helps the parents to focus on the priorities , while supporting the whole family in a holistic way which empowers them to challenge their thinking and actions that impact on their family life.
About Dad Matters Wakefield
We work closely with other professionals locally and nationally to better support dads in the first 1001 days of their parenting journey.
We offer outreach services/drop-ins at maternity centres, and community venues, provide 1:1 peer support to dads, signpost and support dads to access services and information to help make sense of being a dad and supporting dads with anxiety, stress and mental health awareness
www.dadmattersyorkshire.uk ask.us@dadmattersyorkshire.uk
Family Groups – Stay & Play Sessions
Groups run across the district offering parents and carers a chance to access peer support and help their little ones gain skills such as sharing, turn taking, sitting together and listening. All of which are a big part of being school ready.
Flanshaw – Phoenix – Monday 9.15-10.45am
Phoenix Community Centre Flanshaw Lane WF2
Pontefract – Busy Bees – Monday 1pm – 2:30pm
Pontefract
Eastmoor – Busy Bees – Tuesday 9.30 -11am
St Swithun’s Community Centre Arncliffe Road WF1
Castleford – Tuesday 1:00 -2:30pm
Phoenix Community Centre Flanshaw Lane WF2
Knottingley- St Botolph’s- Wednesday 1:00 -2:30pm
Phoenix Community Centre Flanshaw Lane WF2
Sharlston Twins & Multiples – Thursday 9.45 -11:30am
Sharlston Community Centre WF4 1DB
Dad Matters Group – 3rd Saturday in Month, Oct to April
Sunbeam Children’s Centre Lupset Crescent WF2 8RH
10am – 12 noon
Saturday 18th October 2025
Saturday 15th November 2025
Saturday 13th December 2025
Saturday 17th January 2026
Saturday 21st February 2026
Saturday 21st March 2026
Saturday 18th April 2026
If you would like to join any of our groups just come along or call 01924 251205