About us
What we do
Home-Start Edinburgh…
- Support parents with young children at home
- Recruit and train volunteers to provide this support
Additionally, as part of its on-going programme, HSE runs regular parent and children groups and arranges social events for referred families.
Being a parent, whatever your age, background or other circumstances, isn’t always easy. This, coupled with other pressures in life such as illness, stress or financial worries can make parenting even more difficult and overwhelming.
Nationwide, Home-Start support 27,000 families each year
13,500 trained volunteers throughout the UK
Our volunteers
Home-Start volunteers visit families once a week for a couple of hours in their own homes, supporting parents in situations as diverse as isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness, disability or who are just finding parenting a struggle. They provide non-judgemental practical and emotional support and help build the family’s confidence and ability to cope.
Our volunteers are trained to a high standard, checked under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) legislation and understand the needs of families. HSE works with all families in need of support who have at least one child under the age of five.
Our recent merger
In 2022 Home-Start Leith & North East Edinburgh and Home-Start Edinburgh West and South West merged to form Home-Start Edinburgh, creating one charity to cover the entire city, aligning
us with our partners and stakeholders and bringing
numerous operational and financial efficiencies.
Based in Leith since 1986, Home-Start Edinburgh is a registered charity managed by a Board of Trustees and the registered office is 4 Duncan Place, Edinburgh, EH6 8HW. Our team is friendly, approachable and caring. Our staff team consists of a Chief Executive, Senior Co-ordinators, Family Support Co-ordinators, Perinatal Co-ordinators, Group Work Co-ordinators, Administrator and a team of Volunteers.
Since 1986 we have worked with over 10,000 children in Edinburgh
The earliest years make the biggest impact, make sure those years count
Starting in the home, our approach is as individual as the people we help
We give compassionate, confidential help and expert support
Sharing local expertise can drive local, regional and national change