Home-Start
According to its website, Home-Start is "a unique voluntary organization offering support, friendship and a listening ear to families with at least one child under 5 years of age, who are experiencing difficulties" (www.home-start.org.uk). The programme has now been running for twenty-five years in the United Kingdom, and for almost ten years in the Netherlands. Some fifty Dutch local authorities conduct the scheme and there is considerable cooperation between them at regional and national level.
Volunteers visit families at home and offer support, friendship and practical assistance. The volunteers, themselves experienced parents, bring with them some straightforward human qualities such as hope, optimism and humour. The parents state their needs, determine the role that Home-Start is to play, and decide exactly how long they wish to made use of the service. (The average is eleven months. ) The organization tries to achieve a good 'match' between parent and volunteer.
All volunteers are given prior training in this 'demand-led' approach, and can rely on the support of professionals. Contact with parents focuses on the enjoyable, positive aspects of parenting. This helps to foster self-confidence ('empowerment') on the part of the parents. Equality and mutual trust are essential preconditions for a successful parent-volunteer relationship.
Useful Information:
Home-start in the Netherlands
Landelijk Steunpunt Home-Start Nederland
Marijke Galama, p/a Humanitas,
PB 71, 1000 AB Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 523 11 00
Email: home-start@lb.humanitas.nl
Home-start in the UK
www.home-start.org.uk
