Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. Those precious early years of a child's life lay the foundations of virtually every aspect of human development - affecting how healthy and happy we are, our life chances and even how long we live. The emotional, physical and psychological cost for children in struggling families is immense and can last a lifetime. That's why for almost 50 years Home-Start has supported parents so that they can give their children the best possible start, despite their challenging circumstances. Home-Start volunteers are helping to transform the lives of children with struggling parents. Whatever they're experiencing - such as loneliness, financial difficulty, domestic violence, mental health issues, bereavement, multiple births or disability - our trained volunteers are helping with support focusing on what the families need.