Join Home-Start's Mission: Volunteer to Support Families in Need
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Home-Start Staffordshire Moorlands is appealing to people in the South Moorlands to volunteer their time and support local families who are currently waiting for help.
As everyday pressures continue to grow for parents, Home-Start's work is more vital than ever — offering friendship, emotional support, and practical help to families with young children when they need it most.
Many local families are feeling the strain of the rising cost of living, high fuel prices, and limited access to local services. In our rural communities, isolation and mental health challenges can hit particularly hard — and with services under pressure, Home-Start offers a vital lifeline.
Home-Start volunteers spend a few hours of their time each week, helping to prevent small problems from becoming crises.
Home-Start is keen to hear from people of all backgrounds, ages and life experiences — whether they’re parents, grandparents, or simply have a heart for supporting families. What matters most, the charity says, is a compassionate, non-judgemental attitude and a willingness to help. No formal qualifications are required — just life experience, empathy, and a few spare hours each week.
“People often think they haven’t got what it takes to help — especially if it’s been a while since they raised their own family,” said Rachel Richardson, Scheme Manager. “But a genuine care for children never leaves us, and sometimes just being a listening ear can truly transform a family’s life."
"Our volunteers do all sorts of things — from getting down on the floor to play with energetic twins, to offering a cup of tea and emotional support to a stressed parent or helping someone new to the area find their feet by visiting local facilities together. Our support is always flexible and shaped around the needs of each family — and we take care to match volunteers thoughtfully, so they get something valuable from the experience too. If you’re interested in finding out more, there’s no pressure to commit - we’re always happy to start with an informal chat to see if it’s the right fit for you.”
Home-Start also welcomes people who can help with fundraising events and activities, especially as they continue to feel the financial impact of the Covid pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Volunteering is flexible and volunteers can take breaks between supporting families, making it easy to fit around holidays, family life, or other commitments. Full training and ongoing support is provided.
Volunteers are carefully matched with families based on their preferences — for example, if you’d rather work with toddlers or babies, or prefer a pet-free household. All travel costs and out-of-pocket expenses are covered by the charity, so all volunteers need to give is their time.
If you have a little time to give and want to make a meaningful difference in your community, Home-Start would love to hear from you.
To find out more or express your interest, contact Home-Start Staffordshire Moorlands on 01538 387231 / info@homestartsm.org.uk or to find out more visit their website www.homestartsm.org.uk
The charity was out in full force at Cheadle Party in the Park on Sunday 10th August, where they were met with a warm and welcoming response from the community. Their tombola and face painting stall proved popular with families, raising £260 to support their work with local parents and young children. They used the opportunity to raise awareness about the increasing need for support in the area — and to invite local people to get involved. In response to growing demand, Home-Start is launching a new Volunteer Preparation Course this September, which they hope to run in Cheadle. The course is designed to be flexible, taking place one short day per week during school hours, on a day that suits those taking part.
Join Home-Start's Mission: Volunteer to Support Families in Need- created 19.8.25
