Home-Start Stirling supports families from across the local area who young children and are experiencing challenges.

Families need support for many different reasons including being affected by isolation, mental health difficulties, physical disability, poverty and domestic abuse.   Using a flexible approach we aim to build confidence in parents so they can provide their children with the very best start in life.

To Home-Start Stirling, every family is unique and we respond to each family’s individual needs through our services of home-visiting support, group work and social events.

Home-Start Schemes are rooted in the communities they serve – managed locally but supported by the national organisation which offers direction, training, information and guidance to schemes to ensure consistent and quality support for parents and children wherever they are.

Home-Start Stirling has a proven, lasting, positive impact on the development of children and on the health and welfare of the family.

Our volunteers are generally parents themselves, trained and supported by our Co-ordinators, and are carefully matched to a family. Our volunteers provide weekly support within the family’s own home with practical help, listening and companionship.

There is no time limit to our support and staff will also visit families regularly to review the service and support provided until everybody agrees that the service is no longer required.

If you would like any more information about the Home-Visiting, please call the office number (01786 498466) or enquire through the ‘Contact Us’ form.

At Home-Start Stirling we offer two forms of group support, both of which are facilitated by our Group Coordinator.

Play Club is a weekly group for our families with children under the age of five years.  At Play Club we promote positive play opportunities with the aim to reduce social isolation and promote positive interaction between parent and child.  Our Play Club is open to anyone supported by Home-Start Stirling and offers a welcoming and supportive environment to those who attend.

Pathways is a programme of learning sessions for parents where we aim to help build the emotional and practical skills involved in parenting.  This can include sessions on budgeting, stress management, paediatric first aid, cooking and meal planning and importance of play.  We endeavour to run this course 2-3 times per year and we provide a creche for the children.

If you would like any more information about our group services, please call the office number or enquire through the ‘Contact Us’ form.

Home-Start’s in Scotland support over 2100 families* with over 5500 children* supported by more than 1500 volunteers*. In Stirling alone, since we first opened in 1999, we now currently support throughout the year 70 families and around 160 children from all sectors of the community and for many varied reasons.

(* Home-Start UK, 2012 Summary Scotland)

Home-Start Stirling is proud to share our 2024 Annual Report