Welcome to Home-Start Wessex
For 30 years, we’ve provided family support to local, vulnerable and disadvantaged families with at least one child under five.
In the last year we helped a record number of families with demand continuing to rise.
We are working hard to keep up with this demand and help the local families that need us, but we can’t do this alone. We need the support of the whole community.
Get support
We work with you to build on your strengths and give you the support you tell us you need.
Ways to volunteer
By volunteering just a few hours a week you can transform the lives of young children and their parents in your community.
Why fundraise for us?
A child’s earliest years are the most important. Home-Start wants to make sure those years count. Can you help us?
Latest
A Royal Moment: Meeting Princess Anne at the BQF UK Excellence Awards
A Royal Moment: Meeting Princess Anne at the BQF UK Excellence Awards Home-Start Wessex was honoured to attend the recent BQF UK Excellence Awards, where we had the privilege of meeting Her Royal Highness Princess Anne and sharing the impact of our work supporting families across Dorset. Being recognised as…
A Family’s Story
Supporting a Mum of five with additional needsWe supported a Mum of five children who was managing the day-to-day demands of family life largely on her own. Some of the children had additional needs, requiring extra care, support and supervision. Providing the level of care and support her family needed…
Celebrating Our Volunteers at the Volunteer Centre Dorset Celebration Evening
Last Friday, Home-Start Wessex attended the Volunteer Centre Dorset Celebration Evening, joining volunteers and organisations from across the county to recognise the incredible contribution volunteers make to our communities. It was inspiring to see so many volunteers celebrated for their dedication, compassion and commitment to helping others. We were especially…
Saffery Goes Full Throttle to Raise £1,400 for Home-Start Wessex
Saffery Goes Full Throttle to Raise £1,400 for Home-Start Wessex We had a fantastic evening of fun, friendly competition and fundraising as the team at Saffery took to the track for an exciting go-karting night, raising an incredible £1,400 for Home-Start Wessex. The evening saw teams battle it out on…
Please take all donations directly to the shop
A big thank you for your support with all the donations for the shop. We are now no longer accepting donations at our kinson office, please take them directly to our shop in Saxon Square, Christchurch. Thank you again for your continued generosity and support.
Holt Recruitment Group Completes ‘Anything but an Ordinary 100 Miles’ Charity Challenge, raising over £7,000 for Home-Start Wessex
Bournemouth-based Holt Recruitment Group has completed another epic charity endurance challenge, raising over £7,000 for Home-Start Wessex. Teams from across the business took on the wilderness-themed ‘Anything but an Ordinary 100 Miles’ endurance challenge designed to test teamwork, navigation, resilience and determination. On the day, each team was dropped at…
Our 2025–26 Annual Review is out now!
Our 2025–26 Annual Review is out now! We\'re incredibly proud to share another record-breaking year for Home-Start Wessex, supporting 547 families and transforming the lives of 1,955 parents and children across Dorset. The review highlights the impact of our volunteers, staff, supporters and partners, and shares the stories behind the…
Home-Start Wessex reports another record year, supporting over 1,000 children and transforming almost 2,000 lives
Home-Start Wessex reports another record year, supporting over 1,000 children and transforming almost 2,000 lives With local families continuing to feel the strain of everyday life, Home-Start Wessex has supported a record 547 families in crisis, transforming the lives of 1,955 local parents and children. The charity continues to break…
Holt Recruitment Group launches ‘Anything but an Ordinary 100 Miles’ charity challenge for Home-Start Wessex
Holt Recruitment Group launches ‘Anything but an Ordinary 100 Miles’ charity challenge for Home-Start Wessex Four Holt teams will be dropped at undisclosed locations and challenged to navigate their way on foot to a designated finish point in support of local families. Bournemouth, September 18th – Holt Recruitment Group has…
Volunteers pull together to raise an incredible £6,900 for local families in need
Volunteers pull together to raise an incredible £6,900 for local families in need Incredible volunteers from across Dorset came together to take on the epic Dorset Plane Pull challenge over the August Bank Holiday and raise vital funds to support Home-Start Wessex’s life-changing work with local families. The charity was…