Home-Start Canterbury & Coastal

how we help

If you are a parent or a carer (with at least one child under 8) and you are finding things tough for any reason, you might find Home-Start support helpful.

We support families facing a variety of problems including:

Loneliness
Isolation
Post-natal depression
Disabilities or ill health
Multiple births
Relationship difficulties
Bereavement
Domestic violence

In other words - anyone with at least one child under 8, who is experiencing difficulties, can ask Home-Start for help.

Home-Start Canterbury & Coastal helps families in the Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable and Faversham areas of East Kent. If you live in another part of the country then you can find the address of your local Home-Start scheme from the Home-Start UK website.

Home-Start delivering parenting support programmes.

Baby Explorers "better brains for babies"

A six week course for parents with a child under 12 months to promote good attachment and communication with baby, enabling parents to help their children develop skills for life.

Baby Explorers Leaflet (PDF, 300k)

Solihull Approach Parenting Groups: Supporting parent/child relationships

The Solihull Approach Parenting Group is intended for parents and carers who want to know more about sensitive and effective parenting. It aims to develop a framework of thinking about parent/child relationships which can be developed into a lifelong skill. This in turn promotes effective behaviour management.

The Solihull Approach Parenting Group encourages parents and carers to identify the most important issues in their relationship with their child and to reflect on why things sometimes go well and sometimes do not. It is them easier for the parent to identify how to work together with their child.

How can Home-Start help?

Home-Start volunteers visit families regularly in their own homes. The visits are usually once a week but this can be flexible. The volunteer and the family decide together when to meet and how the time will be spent.

Sometimes a parent may want someone to listen, someone to talk to - or even someone to share an adult conversation! At another time they may need more practical help with the shopping or playing with the children.

As well as home visiting, Home-Start organises a number of family groups in the area. These informal groups are a meeting place for families with children under 8. They are an opportunity to socialise, relax and make new friends.

Family Support Worker
Our Family Support Worker is a member of staff and is able to support a small number of families who have an urgent need for help.

Family Support Worker Leaflet (PDF, 6M)

Community Worker
Our new Home-Start Community Worker is offering her support. This is a new service in the Canterbury area, which covers Thanington, Wincheap, and the London Road Estate. She works from the Littlehands Children's Centre . Referrals can be made to the centre or if you would like to know more please contact her at the centre.