How it all began….

In the early 1970's Margaret Harrison CBE, a voluntary worker with families in Leicester, recognised that although a lot of work was being done directly with children, the parents also needed support through difficult times.

When parents themselves are in need of support, the children are also affected. By building their confidence and emotional well being, parents are more able to cope with the difficulties they face, and in turn give their children the time, attention and love they need.

From that single pioneering idea, and the launch of the first scheme in 1973, Home-Start now works in over 325 communities throughout the UK and with British Forces in Germany and Cyprus.

Click here to read about our tree of life project.

Received a start-up grant from the Local Implementation Fund as part of the Merton's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy to set up our group for teenage parents.

Felicity Clarkson, (Home Office Family Policy Unit) visited our scheme to meet families, volunteers and staff and said " Many thanks for a most stimulating day. You can be assured that you have increased the ranks of Home-Start supporters."

Awarded the Investing in Volunteers Kite Mark

Launch of our Teenage Mothers Project which is now recognised as a key local provider for this client group

Began our partnership with the Lavender SureStart Programme.

Awarded 3 year funding agreement from the Health Improvement Programme

Deputy Mayor of Merton, together with James Sainsbury, (Chair, Home-Start UK) joined 110 guests at a fund raising Gala Dinner in celebration of our 10th Anniversary.

Changed the legal structure of the organisation from an unincorporated charity to a charity company limited by guarantee.

Home-Start Merton felt both honoured and privileged, that our Scheme Manager was invited by Home-Start International to speak as a representative of Home-Start at a Conference to shape social policy in Lithuania. Her presentation focussed on the dual benefits of volunteering to meet the needs of vulnerable families as well as providing opportunities for women to develop skills enabling them to return to the workplace.
Brian Waller, Director of Home-Start International, during that time, said:

"We are delighted that Barbara Cluer, Manager of Home-Start Merton, has accepted our invitation to travel to Lithuania as our ambassador and to speak at a top level conference of policymakers about Home-Start and how it could help vulnerable families and children. We have the highest regard for the work that Barbara and her staff and volunteers have been doing with families in Merton over the last 13 years. We hope that her visit will be just the beginning of a link between Home-Start Merton and Lithuania."

2007/08 - One of 8 H-S schemes selected nationally to be invited to take part in the  Government funded pilot Early Learning Partnership Project.  Barbara Cluer contributed to this process as one of the trainers on ELP training module for volunteers that has now been disseminated to all H-S schemes in the UK