When a family decides that they would like to find out more about Home-Start Ashford & District they are referred by another agency e.g. health visitor or they can refer themselves. A member of the team will visit to discuss the type of support available and help to choose what is suitable for each individual family, whether it is support at home, through groups or specific activities.
All Home-Start Ashford & District volunteers attend preparation course sessions in addition to providing two character references and an enhanced DBS check. Volunteers can then go on to visit families regularly in their own homes for 2 to 3 hours per week or as mutually agreed. Volunteers work flexibly alongside families and they decide together how the time is best spent.
Every family and volunteer relationship is different; it might include spending time listening or chatting together over a cup of tea, going to the park with the children, attending pre-school groups and activities, supporting families to make or keep appointments or giving a parent some respite as required.
Home-Start Ashford & District along with all other Home-Start schemes is autonomous both financially and operationally however we are guided and advised closely by Home-Start UK in alignment with best practice and current legislation.
