Message from our chair

Raising and nurturing young children is an extra-ordinarily important task, and one which can be lonely and challenging without support. Home-Start’s mission – to help families with young children through difficult times – is as critical now as it was when we were founded in 1988. We work closely with other organisations to help parents give their children the very best start in life; and we have a unique role through our experience of the importance of befriending, and the value of the support of a skilled volunteer. We are very proud of the contribution we have made to our community over the last twenty years, the difference we have made to very many families and the reputation we have established; and we are committed to sustaining and building on this.

 

You can read elsewhere on this website about the work we do through our immensely dedicated and imaginative volunteers who are backed up by a wonderful staff team. Here I also want to reflect on why our Trustees are so important to Home-Start Oxford, and why I would encourage anyone wanting to make a difference and interested in this role in the organisation to get in touch.

 

Being a Trustee here offers a fascinating combination of hands-on work (sorting out the phone system, managing staff, writing funding bids, doing the bookkeeping) with decision making about how to develop the charity, how to establish new partnerships and make our influence felt so as to have a big impact on families’ lives. To be a Trustee, you don’t need special qualifications. What we need are common sense, the ability to explore and consider options, and the willingness to take a special interest in one or more areas of our work. Do let us know if this could be you.

Whether you are visiting this website as a family needing help, a referrer, a potential volunteer, a donor or just out of interest, we hope that what you find out here about Home-Start makes you want to know more. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Romy Briant MBE