Home-Start Guildford
There for parents when they need us most, because childhood can't wait
Get Support
Who can we support?
We can support any parent living in Guildford Borough who has at least one child under the age of five and who wants our help. We provide free and confidential support to parents who are struggling to cope with a variety of challenging circumstances such as:
- feeling isolated
- suffering with post-natal depression and maybe finding it hard to talk to anyone about it
- having a hard time coping with your child’s illness or disability
- being affected by the death of a family member
- struggling with the emotional and practical demands of twins, triplets or young children
- finding it hard to cope with relationship difficulties
- feeling exhausted or depressed
- coping with your own illness or disability
What do we offer?
This help comes in the form of a home visiting volunteer providing support in the family’s home or by attending one of our Family Groups.
Where there are more complex needs within the family, or a short, focussed piece of work is required, a family may benefit from working with our Family Support Worker, who will visit the family regularly with targets on which they can work together.
How to access support:
Our support is accessed via a simple referral form, which is available here.
Parents can self-refer or, with the parents’ permission, a professional can submit a referral on their behalf.
A volunteer to support you
Our carefully selected and trained volunteers, who have parenting experience, will visit regularly for 2-3 hours a week in the family home. Volunteers offer emotional and practical support which is tailored to what the parent decides would be helpful. Needs can vary from week to week so our support is flexible and responsive, and can include:
- having someone to talk to
- adult company
- helping and playing with your children
- reassurance
- help to find out about and access other local amenities and services
- encouragement and motivation
- practical help around the house
Family Groups
We provide Family Groups in Pirbright and Guildford, including one specifically for families with new twins. Each session is run by a member of Home-Start staff and assisted by volunteers who offer an excellent range of age appropriate activities for you to share with your child, developing them and your relationship with each other and visits from other professionals to offer advice and guidance at various times. It’s a great chance for parents to meet others, share ideas and make new friends. Simple refreshments are available for you and your children.
Pirbright group meets on a Tuesday at the Pirbright Community Centre.
Guildford Group meets on a Thursday at the Guildford Family Centre.
Baby Bubble Group meets on a Tuesday at the Guildford Family Centre.
Get Active with your Little One meets on a Wednesday at Surrey Sports Centre.
Dad Matters Surrey
Dad Matters Surrey exists to support dads to have the best possible relationship with their families. The Dad Matters staff provide 1:1 peer support to dads-to-be and new dads, to help build their confidence with forming a close bond with their baby; signpost and support dads to access services and information to help make sense of being a dad and support dads with anxiety, stress and mental health awareness
To find out more view the website or click to access a Referral Form.
Looking for Support?
If you are a parent looking for support, please complete a self referral form or for more information, you can contact us through our contact page. The referral forms are available as an online form which is submitted direct to our office or can be downloaded and either emailed to office@hsguildford.org.uk or printed and sent by post to our office: Home-Start Guildford, Astolat, Coniers Way, Guildford GU4 7HL.
Home-Start Guildford is an independent and confidential volunteer service – we only support you at your request. Once we receive your completed referral form we will arrange to visit you to discuss what issues your family is experiencing and what support is needed and how we may be able to help you.
All you have to do is ask. Tel: 01483 511181 or contact us
Next: Make a Referral
