Check our FAQs for questions on services being offered during COVID-19

Support Services

One-to-one family support

Do you need support?

Our one-to-one services are provided by volunteers who are trained to work with you and your family in your home in order to support your needs. We try really hard to find the “right” volunteer for you. They are all friendly and caring people, selected for their warmth and understanding. 

Read on to find the right service for you and your family.

Perinatal Mental Health Support

Available in: Barnet and Enfield

If you are a mum-to-be, or have recently had a baby (up to 1-year old), our Perinatal Mental Health Coaches can offer you support.

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Location:

Your home.

Time:

Once a week for up to three hours.

Suitable for:

Mums-to-be and new mums who live in the London Boroughs of Barnet or Enfield.

You can apply any time from the baby’s conception to one year after having your baby, whether this is your first pregnancy, or you already have a family.  

What to expect:

The aim of the volunteer Perinatal Health coaches is to improve the physical and emotional well-being of mums-to-be and new mums, together with their babies, using a holistic life-coaching model.  Our perinatal Health coaches will support you with weekly coaching sessions, for three to six months. These sessions aim to:  

  • Reduce family isolation and build social networks  
  • Support you to attend antenatal hospital appointments  
  • Help prepare your home for your new baby  
  • Offer emotional support to you at a time when life is changing and challenging  
  • Increase access to health and community
services (including children’s centres)  
  • Provide support around budgeting, debt, household management and parenting  

Perinatal Health Coaches also offer support to access mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence services where required, and will work closely with midwives, GPs, health visitors and children’s centres. 

Early Years (0-5) Support

Available in: Barnet, Brent, Enfield and Harrow

If you have a child under the age of 5 and are going through a difficult time, our trained volunteers are here to help.

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Location:

Your home.

Time:

Once a week for up to three hours.

Suitable for:

Anyone who has a child under the age of five and is going through a difficult time. They must be a resident of the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Enfield or Harrow.

What to expect:

You can expect our trained volunteers to:  

  • Provide support to your family for up to three hours per week 
  • Offer emotional and practical support tailored according to the needs of the family 
  • Help strengthen your parenting skills and relationships with your children  
  • Build parental confidence and self-esteem 
  • Encourage you and your family to integrate into the local community and benefit from the help provided by other organisations and groups 
  • Signpost you to appropriate services 

0-19 Years Support

Available in: Barnet

If you have an older child and could use support around a specific need, our Family Health Coaches can help.

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Location:

Your home.

Time:

Once a week for up to three hours.

Suitable for:

Any families who have specific physical or mental health needs and who are residents in the London Borough of Barnet.

What to expect:

A trained volunteer Family Health Coach will visit the family home once a week. Using life-coaching techniques, she or he can support you alone, or your whole family together, in one-to-one sessions. 

Our Coaches offer: 

  • Psychological coping strategies 
  • Self-care techniques 
  • Support to engage with specialist services 
  • Support around healthy living 
  • Advice on household management and parenting 

They also offer support to resolve housing and debt issues and work together with other local services to help you achieve your objectives. We can signpost or refer you to other services which can support you with your needs.

0-25 Years Support

Available in: Brent

If you have an older child and could use support around a specific need, our Family Health Coaches can help.

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Location:

Your home.

Time:

Once a week for up to three hours.

Suitable for:

Any families who have specific physical or mental health needs and who are residents of the London Borough of Brent.

What to expect:

A trained volunteer Family Health Coach will visit the family home once a week. Using life-coaching techniques, she or he can support you alone, or your whole family together, in one-to-one sessions. 

Our Coaches offer: 

  • Psychological coping strategies 
  • Self-care techniques 
  • Support to engage with specialist services 
  • Support around healthy living 
  • Advice on household management and parenting 

They also offer support to resolve housing and debt issues and work together with other local services to help you achieve your objectives. We can signpost or refer you to other services which can support you with your needs.

Counselling Support

Available in: Barnet

There are many different reasons for someone to want therapy. Often people seek therapy to get relief from feelings of sadness, anxiety or just being stuck.

Counselling support is available as an additional service to Home-Start families.

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Location:

Your home via Zoom or at the Terapia Building in the grounds of Stephens House & Gardens in North Finchley.

Time:

Once a week.

Suitable for:

Any families who feel they would benefit from counselling or therapy and who are currently working with Home-Start in another capacity.

What to expect:

Talking to a counsellor or therapist is not like talking to a friend. Often, speaking to a cousellor can be easier because they offer non-judgemental time and space just for you. It is a relationship built on trust.

A counsellor can help you see certain patterns in your life that you would like to change.

Therapy can help:

  • Past traumas / difficult life events
  • Loneliness
  • Anxiety
  • Low self-esteem
  • Depression
  • Relationship problems
  • Bereavement

Additional Information:

Most people go through difficult challenges in their life. Being ready to take the steps to talk to someone is a brave thing to do.

Financial Literacy Support

Available in: Barnet, Brent and Harrow

If you are looking for help to better manage your household finances, our MoneySmart Coordinator can provide this support.

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Location:

Your home.

Time:

Once a week for up to three hours.

Suitable for:

Families who would benefit from practical help around managing their finances and who are residents of the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent or Harrow. These classes can be done on a one-to-one basis or in a group setting. We also offer workshops to Children’s Centres and other organisations.

What to expect:

The Money Smart classes will help provide practical advice around: 

  • Decision making 
  • Confidence building 
  • Planning and budgeting 
  • Smart shopping 
  • Saving tips 
  • Avoiding debt traps 
  • Supporting your children to help them become Money Smart