ME Norfo r. 2021-2022 Annual Report & Accounts
Contents
About Us Page 3 Chair’s Report Page 4 Chief Executive's Report Page 5 Our Strategy Page 6 Service Manager’s Report Page 8 Lisa's Story Page 9 Our Achievements Page 10 Our Impact Page 11 Development Manager’s Report Page 12 Our Ambassadors Page 13 Business Managers Report Page 14 Our Volunteers Page 15 Volunteer Stories Page 16 Home-Start Norfolk through my eyes Page 18 Nabila's Story Page 19
Charity / Company Information Page 20 Trustees’ report Page 23 Independent examiner’s report Page 29 Statement of financial activities Page 30 Balance sheet Page 31 Notes to the financial statements Page 32
Thank You’s Page 45
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About Us
Home-Start Norfolk is an independent local charity providing vital support to families with children aged 0 to 5. By offering help to families through their toughest times, we provide parents with the support they need to give their children the best start in life.
Home-Start Norfolk’s ethos is to empower and enable, allowing families to develop self-resilience and increase confidence in coping with challenging situations and integrate within their own communities. Nurturing support is delivered by trained volunteers who provide compassionate, emotional, and practical help to families, overcoming barriers and improving lifelong outcomes for young children and their families.
During the last year, referrals number rose to 415 , a staggering 91% increase on 2020-21. 235 families with 497 children were supported via a volunteer match or intensive coordinator support. We also supported a further 109 families with additional services including infant massage sessions (both face-to-face and online), baby weigh groups and mum and toddler groups.
Our services have enabled parents to grow in confidence, empowering them to make positive changes, strengthening relationships with their children, and widening their links with the local community. We focus on the early years which are most impactful in determining a child’s outcomes in later life, where a parent’s ability to give their children the best start is so important.
There is a wealth of evidence to support the benefits of early intervention in children’s lives. By supporting parents during those crucial early years, Home-Start’s work addresses issues early to prevent enduring problems from developing and avoiding a crisis that requires costly statutory interventions later in life.
Our Vision
Every parent has the support they need to give their children the best start in life .
To empower parents to develop the knowledge, skills, and resilience to enable their children to
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Our Values
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We offer families a choice – we are a non-statutory organisation. Families choose to access our
We work in partnership – with each other, with families and with other agencies, to extend the
We work in a spirit of openness, encouragement and enjoyment . We promote positive steps
We are flexible and responsive to the needs of families . We recognise that every family has
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changing needs.
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Chair's Report
Whilst 70% of referrals into our service come through our systems partners, we only receive 25% of our funding from them. The contract for this 25% will end in March 2023. Having exhausted our unrestricted charitable reserves in meeting the needs of Norfolk families through the pandemic this position is unsustainable
This annual report sets out what we do, the way we do it and the impact we know that we have. In my introduction I want to focus on the very real risk to the future of Home-Start Norfolk itself, how we have got here, what we are doing and the support that we need.
Five independent Home-Start charities were founded and grew through Local Authority funding since the 1980’s, providing preventative early interventions to increase resilience in families known to be at risk across our communities. In 2017 the austerity regime removed statutory funding from the Home-Start support model. The five charities merged to form Home-Start Norfolk (HSN) and trustees conducted a full strategic review.
Since taking on the Chair, we have strengthened the skills and strategic intelligence across the board of trustees, with two new board members joining this year. I am proud of the journey we have been on since May 2021, we refreshed the executive leadership, supported a full re-structure of the work force with revised contractual terms and demonstrated our resilience, competency and dedication to continue to support Norfolk families.
Set against the backdrop of a global pandemic and the ensuing cost of living crisis, demand from families and from statutory system partners for HSN support has increased by 91% in the last year alone. Whilst 70% of referrals into our service come through our systems partners we only receive 25% of our funding from them. The contract for this 25% will end in March 2023. Having exhausted our unrestricted charitable reserves in meeting the needs of Norfolk families through the pandemic this position is unsustainable.
Our strategy calls for a partnership with our ICS which meets 50% of our costs, without this my board will have no option but to dramatically reduce the support we are able to provide across the county.
Six years of National Lottery funding has helped to ensure the survival of our charity but if a Home-Start service is to remain part of our ICS we must be sustainable locally. A final grant from the National Lottery Community Fund is facilitating a full review of impact; what is the value of a Home-Start intervention across our ICS, how, where and with whom should we be working to ensure the best outcomes for Norfolk families?
I want to thank my colleagues on the board, our small army of volunteers and our staff team for their hard work and dedication through the year. Our support service sits at the edge of statutory provision, providing preventative interventions which reduce and offset the need for more acute, often more expensive, statutory support. We are raising funds from our communities who are keen to support this agenda, but we cannot meet the full costs of a Home-Start service across our county alone. I also want to thank the systems partners who have engaged in our impact review process and look forward to working with you to retain our charity as a vital community asset for those families who need us.
Niall McClelland, Chair
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1122
People
accessed our service
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Chief Executive's Report
As we pull together representatives from across our Integrated Care System (ICS) in building a shared understanding of our impact it is absolutely vital that we find the right commissioning partnerships to ensure our long-term sustainability. Without a shared commitment to empowering preventative early interventions, children and families will continue to present with more acute needs across our system
referred to us we have learned a great deal about where and how our service model might best impact across our emerging Integrated ICS.
We now know that the first 1001 days of a child’s life, from conception to aged two, are the most impactful in determining their future emotional wellbeing and confidence. This time quite literally determines the way in which our brains are wired and the way in which we see and interact with the world around us. Any of you with parenting experience know how hard it is. All you bring to the role is your own experience, your love, your hopes and your fears. Despite the retreat of Covid every day we turn on the news at the moment our world is full of fear; fear of war, fear of disease, fear of hunger, fear of fuel poverty and fear of climate change.
This year we were proud to be the chosen charity of the Lord Mayor of Norwich. One of the key factors in choosing Home-Start Norfolk is the fact that over 30% of children living in Norwich are living in poverty. That’s almost one third of the children in our
community & I am sad to say that these statistics are more or less mirrored across the county and across the country. We know that these numbers increase dramatically for lone parent families, for families with more than two children and for families with a child under the age of five.
Home-Start Norfolk is committed to a world where we nurture our babies through that fear, where we hold them close and instil hope in them so that they might overcome the challenges we are all facing. When you support Home-Start Norfolk you are not just helping families who are finding life tough today; you are investing in the future society that every one of our children will inherit.
The advent of our ICS seeks to understand and address some of these wider determinants of health, helping to provide the empowering and preventative interventions that not only improve the lives but also save on the financial and emotional cost of more acute interventions. As we pull together representatives from across our ICS in building a shared
We have focused on building a learning culture, putting in place the systems and processes required to put the charitable mission at the heart of what we do. We have worked hard as commissioned partners for Norfolk’s Early Childhood Family Service (ECFS) and with the increasing complexity in the needs of families
understanding of our impact it is absolutely vital that we find the right commissioning partnerships to ensure our long-term sustainability. Without a shared commitment to empowering preventative early interventions, children and families will continue to present with more acute needs across our system.
Daniel Williams, Chief Executive.
less isolated
improved
wellbeing had improved
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Our Strategy
Home-Start Norfolk have reviewed and refreshed our strategic priorities for 2022-2025 in the light of performance against our plans and the fast paced changes we are experiencing across our external environment. Our approach focuses on four strategic priorities underpinned by eight objectives. These objectives form the basis of our business plan for 2022 – 23.
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Our Strategy
"My volunteer was a great match. She has been an invaluable source of support to us all, as well as a listening ear, which for me has been much needed."
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Supported mum in North Norfolk
Service Manager's Report
I would first and foremost like to acknowledge the continued resilience and determination of our volunteers, families and staff in working together throughout the challenges of the pandemic and now the energy crisis, neither of which are over. Our young families can often be the first to feel the difficulties and the responsibilities of raising babies and young children through turbulent times, where the impact can pass through multiple generations.
"The high number , 235 , of families and volunteers we have worked in partnership with this year, providing our unique, trusting and non-judgmental peer led support model is testament to our staff and volunteers dedication. This is our core offer but in addition to 1:1 support in families homes we have also managed to improve attachment between care giver and child through our face to face and online infant massage courses, provided food vouchers to local supermarkets, clothing and equipment via John Lewis donations and supported children living in low income families and/or with a disability via our hardship fund. Funding from the MOD Covenant Fund has enabled support to serving families at RAF Marham and we have developed a weekly Stay n Play offer as well as a monthly baby selfweigh .
Each and every contact between a family and HomeStart Norfolk has the potential to influence positive change in a parent; how they behave or respond to each daily challenge, knowing where and from whom to seek help when they are finding it tough, learning to trust others, how to manage temper tantrums appropriately, recognising a dip in mental health, recognising unhealthy relationships, learning that it is fine to act a bit silly when playing with your child! These are just a few examples of how HSN can help to break cycles of behaviour, sometimes generational, that enable p arents to chan g e the wa y that the y raise future g enerations of our society.
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623
Children were
Supported
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Recognising that prevention and being there early for parents can affect a positive parenting behavioural change, is a celebration to be captured, to be recognised as shared. This is the true impact of Home-Start Norfolk’s support for future generations and for local communities; helping to reduce the pressure on more acute statutory services. We are working hard to develop a truly reflective impact model and reporting structure that each of our Family Service Co-ordinators can be accountable for across their LA district. Our collective ambition is to reach more families, as early as possible, as quickly as possible, with our trusted, compassionate HomeStart Norfolk family of volunteers and staff."
Natalie Spurdens, Services Manager.
Lisa's Story
Grandmother Lisa sadly lost her daughter when her grandson was only 11 weeks old. Devastatingly she also lost her partner and mum in the same year. Now the sole carer of her Grandson MJ, Lisa turns to Home-Start Norfolk for help.
Last July my beautiful daughter Emma died just before her 27th birthday, leaving behind her 11-week-old son MJ. The next day my husband Mick died just before his 54th birthday. There were just 25 hours and 46 minutes between them. Numbness gave way to devastation. Thyroid cancer and lung cancer had taken almost half of my family. Six months later I lost my mum. If it weren’t for my two other children and grandchildren, I’d have wanted to go with them. “I was exhausted. I’d been up and down to Addenbrookes and then to the nursing home where Mick was. We were in the middle of lockdown, making everything even harder. People ask how I’ve managed to cope. I don’t have an answer really. I don’t have much of a choice, especially now that I’m caring for MJ.
Every day MJ gets more and more like Emma. He lifts my spirits in so many ways. He is good for me and I’m. good for him. I’m so grateful to have him. MJ, along with my children and grandchildren, give me something positive to focus on.
Once I became MJs legal guardian, I was referred to Home-Start Norfolk. I thought it would be nice to get some support and be good for MJ. Sharon from Home-Start Norfolk matched me with Suzanne, my Home-Start volunteer. I hit it off with Suzanne straight away. She comes every week and chats to me, plays with MJ and cuddles the dog! I’m so grateful to her for showing up.
It’s helped me so much to have someone outside of the family to talk to. I know I can get grief counselling, but with Covid and lockdown so many services were moved online. Suzanne has really helped me emotionally. We always have a bit of a laugh when she comes.
I told Sharon that I don’t think she could have picked anyone better for me. Suzanne and I are now good friends. My time with Home-Start will soon come to an end, but I know we will always stay in touch. I’d like Suzanne to see MJ growing up. He’s lost so much so for him to have another person in his life to love him is wonderful.
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"I told Sharon that I don’t think she could have picked anyone better for me. Suzanne and I are now good friends."
Our Achievements
334
Families accessed our service in 2021-2022
623
Children have been supported
Families Families 210445with Children with Children25 51 Matched with received support volunteer from a with regular home visits Family Service Coordinator
107 Families with 127 children Participated infant massage, baby weigh sessions and toddler groups.
A total of 1122
people accessed our services
415 9 1 % New referrals higher than were last year received
Where our referrals have come from
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ECFS /Children's Centre 115
Health Visitor 92
Self Referral 85 Referrals by District
Children's Services
32
South Norfolk
Family Support Services 21
11.1%
Other Health Services 21 Norwich
27.5%
Education/Early Learning 17
Breckland
Other community Orgs 14 15.2%
Mental health ServicesMental health Services 10
Other 8
Broadland
North Norfolk
9.4%
8.2%
"My Volunteer made me realise that Kings Lynn Great Yarmouth
with a little bit of encouragement you 14.9% 13.7%
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Referrals by District
"My Volunteer made me realise that with a little bit of encouragement you can do anything if you put your mind to it" [Supported mum ] in South Norfolk
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Our Impact
Home-Start Norfolk works with families facing a range of different challenges. The graph below shows the primary needs identified at a family’s initial assessment.
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80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Isolation Coping with stress
Child[ren]’s physical wellbeing Parent's physical wellbeing Financial management
Child[ren]’s mental wellbeing
Parenting Skills Children’s learning and development Parent's mental wellbeing Parent’s confidence and self-esteem Household management
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Percentage of families who reported an improvement in needs following Home-Start Norfolk’s support in 2021-2022...
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71% 86%
95%
90%
Financial Household
Isolation
Childrens Mental
Management Management
Health and
Wellbeing
83% 87%
80%
Parents Mental Parents
Coping with Stress
Health & Wellbeing Self Esteem
100%
Children's Early
Development a&
100% 83% 100% Learning
Parents Physical Parenting Skills Childrens Physical
Health & Wellbeing Health & Wellbeing
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Development Manager's Report
Financial sustainability is a key priority within our strategy and
business plan. It goes without saying that Home-Start Norfolk cannot
deliver the vital support that families need without having a robust
income stream to sustain it. With a dramatic increase in referrals
during the last year, the impact of the pandemic and the cost-of-
living crisis, we anticipate demand growing ever greater over the
next few years.
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I’d like to extend tha nks to all our local supporters , our fantastic small group of fundraising volunteers holding regular events throughout the year, the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Norwich who chose us as Norwich’s Civic Charity, Norfolk Freemasons, our friends at John Lewis and Waitrose in Norwich for their donations to support our families, and all those who ran, walked, cycled, and flipped pancakes to raise funds.
"We are extremely grateful for the continued support of a number of national funders, including National Lottery Community Fund, MOD Covenant Fund, and Garfield Weston Foundation. Thanks also to local funders, who are passionate about supporting our Norfolk communities, in particular those valued supporters who chose to fund us via Norfolk Community Foundation; and local trusts including Ellerdale, Paul Bassham, and Geoffrey Watling Charity. Grants and trust income has kept Home-Start Norfolk afloat over the last five years since our merger, but this is not sustainable. With the increasing costs of providing a countywide service, we need to engage our local community and, in particular, our statutory partners in supporting our work.
Investing in Home-Start Norfolk isn’t just about supporting families today, it is shaping the attitudes and behaviours of our future society. If you are inspired to become part of our movement for change please reach out, Sharna and I would be delighted to talk with you." Helen Brown, Development Manager
In line with our strategic aims to diversify and increase income, I have been pleased to welcome Sharna Martin, our Fundraising Officer, to our team this year. Sharna joined us in November 2021 as a recent graduate with a range of transferable skills. We are investing in her development, supported by some DCMS Pears Resilience funding, to increase our profile and income generation across the digital, community and corporate spaces.
Sharna Martin, Fundraising Officer
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Our Ambassadors
Another year has flown by. I have never been prouder of the invaluable work undertaken by Home-Start Norfolk Volunteers. The way you all adapted your work practices during Covid was beyond exceptional, but it doesn’t end there. Today we see a greater volume of vulnerable families coming forward for support than ever before - and sadly numbers will only increase during the harsh winter months around the corner. I know you will hit the ground running and as a result precious young lives will be nurtured, nourished, and transformed by your extraordinary level of intervention, encouragement, friendship, and support. There is nothing more vital than supporting families and transforming young lives. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for the extraordinary difference you make here in Norfolk.
The Lady Dannatt, MBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk
Home-Start’s “Together with Families” video really summed up its special and vital work. As difficult as the pandemic years were, the added challenges facing families this year are immense. For many, Home-Start Norfolk is their lifeline. Once again Home-Start Norfolk rises to the challenges - successfully building audiences across social media channels and electronic newsletters - attracting new volunteers, giving families practical tips including no-cost ideas for their little ones, and mental health and financial advice for parents, in addition to establishing new funding partnerships.
Huge thanks to the dedicated staff team, but the beating heart of Home-Start Norfolk will always be all our wonderful volunteers who, by changing the circumstances of one child, positively change the future of a new generation. And that is priceless.
Trisha Goddard
You will all have read and heard elsewhere about some of the effects of the lockdown - increased isolation, difficulties at home being exacerbated, financial pressures, NHS and other statutory services under more pressure - plus the cost-ofliving crisis. All of which inevitably means that more families desperately need Home-Start Norfolk’s help. I can only applaud the wonderful work they do in delivering their fabulous support to all the families.
I had the pleasure of talking to some volunteers recently about their satisfaction and reward. They told me “You get that look, that smile and it’s all worth it”; “I’d recommend it to anyone”.
Clare, Lady Agnew DL
Ann Keable, MBE
My involvement with Home-Start began back in 2004, when I became a Trustee in Great Yarmouth, shortly after retiring as a First School Deputy Headteacher. I also continue as a Fundraising Volunteer in the east of the county, raising vital funds to continue the brilliant work of the charity.
During this last year, I was absolutely delighted and amazed to receive a letter from the Cabinet Office advising me that Home-Start Norfolk had nominated me for an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for my services to the charity and the support of children. I am still awaiting the ceremony but look forward to it and to the opportunity that I hope it will provide to raise the profile of Home-Start Norfolk.
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Business Manager's Report
Whilst Home-Start Norfolk is a registered charity we are also a company limited by guarantee. We are a business that trades in social outcomes and our income is reliant on demonstrating both impact and value for money across those outcomes. As part of our re-structure my role is to support the development and implementation of the systems and processes required to ensure that all staff can understand their effectiveness as a member of a social outcomes business.
"With a clear business planning and strategic review cycle we have consolidated financial and service reporting frameworks which allow the whole team to understand and be accountable for their performance. We have developed our data management recording and reporting in order that we can recognise and understand the local differences across the county and the differing needs of the families we support. The data allows us all to learn and relate to best practise, achieving excellent service delivery through the team and best outcomes for families.
Our customer relationship management (CRM) system, charity log, is accessed remotely by staff working across the county, tracking and capturing our referrals and activity across the families we support and the volunteers who work with them. As with any CRM the data is reliant on standard processes and consistent updating. We have worked hard on evolving these systems and processes alongside our re-structured team. The quality of our data and our reporting continues to improve and we look forward to translating the results of our impact review.
At Home-Start Norfolk our business is all about supporting families to be very best nurturing environment for their children. At its heart my role is to support the engagement of the whole charitable team in living the values that will deliver this objective. Balancing our commercial effectiveness and our charitable aims our culture is one of compassion, nonjudgement and support for each other. We have introduced new tools this year to recognise and support personal development and growth across our staff and volunteer teams, highlighting the importance of these values and encouraging both shared learning and shared accountability. I would like to thank all staff for their commitment and engagement in this important organisational development work.
Liz Cross, Business Manager
Team Photo, Home-Start Norfolk
to talk things through with Brenda has helped me so much. She has also given me lots of encouragement and noticed the things that I am really good at. Her encouragement has made me think about what I might be capable of in the future. Supported Mum, Rachel
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Our Volunteers
When Covid struck we recognised that volunteer support was more crucial than ever. Supporting families through such isolating and unsettling times our volunteers did not fail to rise to the challenge. We were in a position to move immediately to offering telephone and on-line support from our volunteers. As restrictions slowly eased, we put a shared risk management process in place which allowed our committed volunteers to carry out doorstep visits and then visits in the garden or park before face-to-face home visiting was resumed at the earliest opportunity. We also saw an increase in the number of volunteers who wanted to sign up to Home-Start Norfolk and offer their support. We developed an online training course and advertised spaces via the many social media channels now available. We have carried this model through from lock down as it allows us to deliver a full course, conveniently bringing together volunteers from across the whole of the County.
145 119 55 volunteers were available supported at least one family new volunteers
Whilst acknowledging the benefits of our online training we are now also recognising the lack of real human contact in building the trusting relationships that are so vital for volunteers to feel effectively connected to, and supported by, our charity. As we move into 2023 we will be evolving a hybrid training programme which will include e-learning, on-line and face to face sessions, increasing flexibility and the opportunity to engage a wider cross section of volunteers. We continue to look at ways of ensuring volunteers can feel part of an organisation that offers support across the whole of Norfolk; through coffee mornings, encouraging and growing peer support and the opportunity to meet up at the varied training sessions across the county and throughout the year.
Volunteers are also able to develop more diverse family support approaches through specialised training, including; attachment theory, perinatal infant mental health, therapeutic parenting and breastfeeding. New volunteers all receive mandatory safeguarding awareness training with refresher sessions for longer serving volunteers.
The dedication and innovative measures that our volunteers develop to ensure support for families is personal and tailored to their particular needs continues to shine and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their enthusiasm and support over this past year.
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Michelle's Story
due to health reasons but we can’t wait to welcome her back.
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I first heard of Home-Start Swaffham through a friend. We enquired about the role and decided to take the plunge and sign up. It was the best thing I did. I really, really love volunteering. Initially, the focus on signing up was because it complemented my degree in behavioural studies. I wanted to get into mentoring and thought this was the perfect opportunity to gain real-life experience. But then I fell pregnant. I continued with the volunteering not only because I enjoyed it, but if I ever wanted to continue with my degree, I would have insights and understanding of the challenges young families face.
I have supported lots of families throughout my time with Home-Start Norfolk. It makes me so proud when a family gets the outcome they desire at the end of support. It then gives you the motivation to carry on and help the next family and try and do the same for them.
I come from a large family, so I have lots of experience with family altercations and relationships. This helped so much when visiting families and building rapport. My tactic would always be to go in with no
preconceived ideas or judgement and listen to what they had to say. It was always reassuring to know that if I ever had a problem, there would always be someone at the end of the phone that could help. The support from Home-Start was fantastic.
Being a volunteer has made me grow as a person and given me a bigger outlook on life. I have definitely become more empathetic. You deal with lots of families who are facing a multitude of different challenges. It teaches you to be more open and willing to take on what they are going through. My advice for any new volunteer is always to be yourself, be open, listen and not judge.
I am really sad that after 22 years, I have had to stop volunteering for health reasons. It’s been a pleasure, and If I could carry on I would. I hope to one day volunteer for Home-Start Norfolk again.
Michelle Blackmore, Family Service Coordinator in Breckland
“I have felt very fortunate to have been able to match Michelle several times over the many years she has volunteered. Her gentle and thoughtful approach and wealth of life experience has meant that she has been well equipped to support families struggling with a range of complex issues. Whatever the challenges Michelle approaches every family with kindness, care and empathy.
Michelle has been such a huge asset to Home-Start Norfolk and I sincerely hope when she feels well enough she will return and continue with her volunteering journey.”
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Judith's Story
Judith decided to volunteer for Home-Start Norfolk when she
relocated to Norfolk in retirement. Her career in Education, Youth
Services & Adult Education gave her the passion and experience
to make a lasting difference with Norfolk Families.
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I have worked with many volunteer organisations throughout my career , and I can honestly say that Home-Start Norfolk is the best I have ever come across.
I first found Home-Start when I moved to Swaffham once I had retired. I had tried volunteering for a couple of other organisations in Swaffham, but they didn’t fit. After seeing an advert, I decided to give Home-Start a try and was instantly impressed. First off, the training is outstanding, both before I got started and throughout my role as a volunteer. They are well organised, ensuring you are kept up to date with safeguarding & procedures. Another thing that is really outstanding is the support you get. The family service coordinators are brilliant. I can’t fault them. I have been in a couple of difficult situations with families; as soon as I contacted the office, my coordinator called me back within minutes. It gives you such reassurance when you are on your visits, knowing they are there when you need them.
There was one particular family I was matched with where I was in a situation that I didn’t feel comfortable with. I spoke to my coordinator and explained what had happened, no questions were asked, my coordinator was really understanding, and I was never put in that position again. The coordinators really are great.
I have made some great friends through Home-Start Norfolk, not just the staff but the families too. I am still in touch with many of the families I have supported. It’s marvellous that they have stayed in touch with me. It’s heart-warming to see how I have made a difference in their lives.
One Mother’s Day, a mum I had stayed in touch with sent me some beautiful Eastern European chocolates. When I called her to thank her, she said she knew my sons lived so far away. To know that she was thinking about me on Mother’s Day was a wonderful feeling.
The most challenging part for me is walking away from families, either when the support has ended or if the families have not engaged. I hate to admit defeat, but I accept that sometimes circumstances are beyond my and the family’s control. You can’t win them all. You are not intervening; you are just making suggestions and letting them make all the decisions.
I love volunteering for Home-Start Norfolk. Who wouldn’t love doing something that makes such a difference in people’s lives? In my retirement, I don’t want to sit back and do nothing; I want to be part of the community I am living in. We have been away from my family, so I love spending time with the children and playing with them. It’s very refreshing. I find volunteering helps with my own mental well-being. If I haven’t got a family to support for a while, I might otherwise tend to dwell on my own problems.
I’m proud to be part of an organisation that is so well run and well managed. I can’t think of any organisation out in the community in my career that I have worked with that was as well organised as HomeStart Norfolk.
My advice for anyone starting their volunteering journey is never to forget you are there as their friend. Treat people how you would like to be treated.
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Written by Lisa, supported by Home-Start and inspired to become a volunteer herself
I became a Mum for the first time in 2003, and just 20 months later, I had another child. Despite loving being a Mum, I let the negative opinions of others get me down. Whatever happened to if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?
My second born was a lot more challenging than my firstborn and getting out and about got that little bit harder. I was adamant I would do my best to continue to attend as many local Mother and Baby/Toddler Groups as I could, just like I did with my firstborn.
It was around 2006 when I became aware of Home-Start Norfolk, and the potential to have support from a volunteer who knew what it was like to be in my position. If I am honest, I hadn't heard of Home-Start before. Whilst I continued to attend mother and toddler groups as much as possible there were still times when I didn't feel like leaving the house. It became easy to hide indoors just myself and my two Children whilst my Husband was at work. I was lucky enough to have a lovely Home-Start Volunteer who had every faith in me that I could do this. I soon realised I could leave the house even when times were tough. My Volunteer believed in me, inspiring me to believe in myself.
Fast forward to 2010, I was now a mother of four. I was still attending groups regularly and had been lucky to have had three Volunteers. All of them had the same thing in common. They all offered no judgement, just compassionate, confidential help and support. I will always be very grateful for their help.
The pandemic gave me time to reflect on my experience with Home-Start Norfolk. I am now a mum of six. It could have been very easy for me to fall back to my low mood in 2006.
I was determined to put into practice what I learnt from my volunteer. The pandemic inspired me to become a volunteer as I knew how many parents would be struggling. Lockdown allowed me to do this. I enrolled in the online volunteer training, all while home-schooling six children! After all these years, I could finally give something back to an organisation that means so much to my family and me.
I have just had my final visit with one family, where I received a beautiful card and a candle telling me how much my support was appreciated and how amazing I was. I have always been the one to tell everyone else how amazing they are, so to this meant so much. I hope to use my experience with Home-Start as well as my parenting knowledge to continue to help make a difference.
I have come so far, and I owe a lot to Home-Start Norfolk and its excellent Staff and Volunteers. I have seen life through the eyes of someone lucky enough to receive support from Home-Start Volunteers and now through a volunteer's eyes. Home-Start Norfolk will always hold a special place in my heart. I will work hard to spread the word about the difference Home-Start makes and how much it is needed.
Written by Lisa,
Volunteer for Home-Start Norfolk
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Nabila's Story
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When I had my daughter Inshirah, I joined lots of baby classes hoping to make some new mum friends, but it seemed like they’d already formed their groups and no one would talk to me. We recently moved to Norfolk and don’t have any friends or family nearby. I felt very isolated and unable to mix with the local community. The lady who ran the Baby Massage group picked up on this and arranged for Home-Start Norfolk to come out and see me.
“Home-Start Norfolk matched me with Dot, my Home-Start volunteer. Dot comes over every week. It’s been so nice to have someone to talk to. My husband works hard and is out of the house for long periods of time. Dot is good company and is someone I can call if I have any worries.
“We are Muslim so we don’t celebrate Christmas in the typical way people do with Santa, Christmas trees and turkeys. When we were told about John Lewis’s Magical Christmas we were stunned.
“Dot explained Christmas traditions to us, and how Christmas lights would help with sensory play for Inshirah. We talked a lot about what gift we should get her. Dot has been helping me to integrate in the local community and suggested a scooter might be ideal for Inshirah because we could walk together to the parks and local groups.
“Magical Christmas made us all so excited about Christmas. It really helped us to feel part of something and connected us to the community. The tree was beautiful and we enjoyed decorating it together. We will definitely celebrate Christmas again next year. It was nice to be able to celebrate with others and share a common experience. As our daughter gets older it will be even more special.
"It’s been so nice to have someone to talk to".
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Charity No 1106362 CL¥npany No 05196432 HOME-START NORFOLK ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022 Page20
HOME.START NORFOLK YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022 Trustee5' report 23 Indepèndent Examinerfs rèport 29 Statement of financial activities 30 Balance sheet 31 Note5 to the financial statements 32 Page 21
trKIME.START NORFOLK YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022 CHARrrYl COMPANY INFORMATION Horn&Start Norfolk 11(6362 05196432 Campinoand Swaffham NOrfk PE37 7RB N A Mcaelland IChoir} M J Chrillian F J Fairbaim-Har¥w S Glenn IAppc¥med 29106120221 N Gough (Resigned 13101120221 D A Lefevre IAppointe(130109120211 S Skowes E Treadwell Secretary F J Fairtlm1ar Dan Williams ICEOI from May 2021 z Cross (Buyness Manager) Natalie Spurden5 Iserwce Manager) Helen Brown (Devdopment Managerl Price Bailey LLP Chartered Accwntarrts Anglia House 6 Central Avenue St Andrew5 Bw'ne5s Park rpe St Andre Nomch NR70HR HSBC 18 London Street Norwich NR2 ILG Page22
HOME-START NORFOLK
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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HOME-START NORFOLK
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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HOME-START NORFOLK
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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HOME-START NORFOLK
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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HOME-START NORFOLK
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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HOME-START NORFOLK
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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HOME-START NORFOLK
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HOME-START NORFOLK
12 December 2022
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HOME-START NORFOLK
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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HOME-START NORFOLK
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 MARCH 2022
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HOME-START NORFOLK
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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HOME-START NORFOLK
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
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Thank You!
A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us this year – our funders,
donors, and supporters, including:
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·John Jarrold Trust
·Arnold Clark Community Fund
·John Lewis & Partners
·ASDA
·KPMG
·Bateman Groundworks Ltd
·Lady Clare Agnew, DL
·Bishop of Norwich ·Blakemore Foundation
·Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Norwich
·Masonic Charitable Foundation
·Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk
·Nationwide Building Society
·Brief Community Fund ·Card Factory Foundation
·NHS Perinatal Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
·Civic Office
·Norfolk Baby Bump & Beyond Toddler Fair
·Co-op Local Community Fund ·DCMS/Pears Recovery Fund ·Ecclesiastical Movement For Good ·Ellerdale Trust
·Norfolk Freemans
·Norfolk Household Support Fund
·Paul Bassham Trust
·Persimmon Homes
·EJR Print
·Saracens Fund
·Fuller Endowment Fund ·Geoffrey Watling Charity ·Gorleston Pavilion ·Great Yarmouth Borough Council ·Great Yarmouth Fundraising Group ·Great Yarmouth Inner Wheel ·Higham Family Revenue Fund ·Holly Gold, DL ·Home-Start UK
·Swaffham Community Centre
·The Lady Dannatt, MBE ·Tesco
·Trisha Goddard
·Victory Housing Community Fund ·Waitrose & Partners ·Warminger Wellbeing Fund ·Yorkshire Building Society
And all those who have donated, fundraised, donated their volunteer expenses or supported us in some way during the year.
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Everyone wants to hold the baby, BUT who holds the Parents?
BecauseChildhoodCantWait
01603 977040
www.homestartnorfolk.org