Parenting is rewarding, but it isn't always easy.

At Home-Start York, we understand that life can bring pressures that make family life harder than it should be. When things feel difficult, we're here to help.

We support families with children under five, offering a friendly, confidential service that helps parents give their little ones the best possible start. Our trained volunteers visit families at home each week, bringing time, care and a listening ear. No judgement. Just genuine, practical support from people who understand what parenting really feels like.

The impact is real and lasting, for children's development and for parents' own health and wellbeing.

We work alongside families who are finding parenting a challenge, whether that's due to loneliness, low mood, illness, disability or simply the weight of too much happening at once. We don't wait for crisis point. We believe early support makes all the difference, to children and to families.

Our volunteers are carefully recruited and trained, and every one of them brings lived experience of parenthood. They don't come to advise or assess. They come to support, encourage and walk alongside you.

Home-Start York is an independent local charity, founded in 1988 and part of the national Home-Start UK network. We're responsible for our own work and our own community, and we're proud of both.

If you'd like to find out more about receiving support, or to refer a family to us, please download our referral form or click the Get Support button below.