Home-Start Erewash
Annual Report and Accounts
2012 – 2013
71 families and 136 children were
supported this year
Of the 68 families reporting a need for an
improvement in their physical and/or emotional
health and well being, 87% reported their
specific support needs were fully met or that
they had noticed a significant improvement at
the end of support.
Patron: HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, KG. GCVO
Registered Charity No. 1107411
Company Limited by Guarantee - Company No. 5303098
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INDEX
Section No.
Page No.
1)
Administrative Information
3
2)
Background to the Charity
4
3)
Chair of Trustees Report
5
4)
Trustees Statement on Risk Assessment
5
5)
Treasurer’s Report
5, 6
6)
Thank you to all our Funders
6
7)
Reserves Policy
6
8)
Senior Co-ordinator’s Report
7, 8, 9
9)
Quality Assurance Review
9, 10, 11
(Includes comments from Families, Volunteers and Referrers)
10)
Family Events
11
11)
‘Friends Of’ Home-Start Erewash
12
12)
Corporate Responsibility Scheme
12
13)
Costs, Statistics and Outcomes
13, 14
14)
Credibility and Quotes
15
15)
Referrer’s Review of Support
15
16)
Comments from Families
16
17)
Acknowledgements and Thanks
17
Appendix – Financial Statements
Over the past 23 years Home-Start Erewash
has supported 2171 families with 4738
children. Between April 2012 and March 2013
the average cost to support one family for a
year was £1,209.
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Administrative Information 2012/13
Trustees Board for 2012/13
Celia Dyson (CHAIR) (Retired Childcare Inspector)
Andrew Buxton (TREASURER) (Retired Bank Manager)
Keith Wallace (Retired HR Manager)
Jan Hampton (Retired Head Teacher)
Lesley Plowman (Retired Family Support Worker, Long Eaton)
Paul Moran (Local Businessman)
Ann Marriott (Home-Visiting Volunteer – Resigned May 2012)
Elaine Betts (Volunteer/Friends Of – Appointed Sept. 2012)
Picture: Trustee Board
Home-Start Erewash’s Trustee Board is made up of local people from a wide range of backgrounds
such as Social Care, Education, Finance, HR and Business. The main requirements of a trustee are; a
real interest in the work we undertake and a willingness to be actively involved in the running of the
charity. The Trustee Board is responsible for the financial security of the organisation and ensures
strong governance.
Trustee Selection Methods - A skills audit has been undertaken to discover those skills which are
required by the Board. Efforts are made to recruit trustees who meet the skill requirement. The
overall composition of the Trustee Board aims to be as representative of the community as possible.
Staff
Jo Hallam (Senior Co-ordinator) – Full time, 37 hours p/w, Monday - Friday
Bren Butler (Co-ordinator) – Part time, 30 hours p/w, Monday - Friday
Tina Walker (Scheme Administrator) – Part time, 20 hours p/w, Monday - Friday
Dawn Henley (Group Worker/Cleaner) – Part time, Wednesday and Friday
Joanne Wardle (Play Worker) – Part time, Wednesday and Friday
Safeguarding Committee and Advisor
Jan Hampton - Trustee
Jo Hallam, Bren Butler - Staff Members
Julie Allen - External Advisor – Charnos Family Support Centre, Ilkeston
Advisors
Anne Farmer – Health Visitor, Long Eaton Health Centre
Sue Savill – Community Health Worker, Ilkeston Hospital
Doug Neely – Kirk Hallam MAT Manager
‘Friends Of’ Home-Start Erewash Committee
Elaine, Nicky, Pauline, Anita
Registered Office
Examiner:
Bankers:
6 Heanor Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 8DX
Tel:
0115 930 4640
E-mail: homestarterewash@supanet.com
Website: www.home-starterewash.co.uk
Mark Newey
Natwest Bank, Bath Street, Ilkeston, Derbys
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Background of the Charity
Home-Start Erewash is a voluntary organisation that offers emotional support and practical help and
information to families in order to help parents and children cope with difficult times; preventing
situations from worsening, and encourages positive, healthy and enjoyable family relationships.
Home-Start Erewash provides a unique and cost effective service; recruiting and training parent
volunteers to offer families bespoke support, working with parents on a one-to-one basis in their own
home. Building supportive relationships and responding directly to the family’s individual needs.
Group support is also available to families through a Family Support Group.
Due to the voluntary, non-discriminatory nature of the relationship, parents welcome the support
offered by Home-Start paid workers and volunteers; this enables Home-Start to establish successful
links with families who are particularly ‘hard to reach’. Home-Start provides a vital strand of the
support offered to Derbyshire parents by Health and Children’s Services, by helping to engage with
some of the most socially excluded families, and supporting them to access the services available to
them.
Home-Start is a ‘preventative-plus’ service that responds to a family’s changing needs by providing
flexible support which is not time-limited. This flexibility is vital as each family has varying needs
and research has shown that longer term support helps embed change and that consistency during
the first 2 years of life can promote positive outcomes for children.
Each Home-Start scheme is an independent charity responsible for its own funding, but with a written
agreement with the national Home-Start organisation defining practice standards and quality audits.
It also provides advice and training to individual schemes.
Home-Start Erewash was originally founded as Home-Start Ilkeston in July 1989 to serve Ilkeston and
its immediate surrounding area. However in 1999 it was enlarged to cover the whole of Erewash and
its name changed to the present one.
The charity is asked to assist individual families by:

Statutory Organisations (e.g. Social Services, Health, Education, Children’s Centres, MAT
teams)

Other voluntary organisations

Individual self-referrals
Families are referred because of difficulties such as: loneliness, isolation, children’s behavioural
problems/development, limited parenting skills, multiple births, disability, physical or mental ill
health, relationship difficulties, domestic abuse, drug/alcohol abuse and financial difficulties. Our
service in Erewash is unique in that we provide informal support to families for the duration of their
needs. The costs, statistics and outcomes section illustrates the effectiveness of the service.
HOME-START’S ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
These are the ethical principles underpinning our charitable objectives.
o Home-Start is the UK’s leading family support charity
o We are proud of our reputation and work with integrity
o We provide a quality service for families with young children
o Voluntary support is fundamental to Home-Start
o We aim to treat all with trust, dignity and respect
o We endeavour to take individual, collective and organisational responsibility for
all our activities
o We value internal and external collaborative working and partnerships
o We aim to use all resources wisely
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Chair of Trustees Report
Home-Start Erewash continues to thrive and provide valued service levels which deliver a unique and
vital part of local family support.
This year has been very successful and at the same time very challenging. Our experiences comprise
of: uncertainty in core funding, a continuing increase in referral levels, increased complexity of
family needs, more competition for supplementary funding and vital preparations for the end of our
current Derbyshire County Council contract.
Operationally, workloads and demands have risen and our biggest asset is that volunteers, staff and
trustees work professionally and cohesively to ensure the best possible outcomes for our families.
The governance of our scheme has remained stable and secure, which was recognised in the
scheme’s Quality Assurance Review this year. The Board of Trustees has grown providing
experiences and skills over a wider spectrum. The staffing of our scheme has remained the same
hardworking dedicated team of 5, and this has underpinned the maintenance and development of our
service. The volunteers have remained true to the belief in how best we can support families and their
commitment continues to be pivotal to the successes achieved. The trustees have focussed on
prioritising and reviewing operations, to ensure financial viability and cost effectiveness both in the
short and long term. Also, we have been supporting staff training and working conditions, updating
our own training profile, raising and initiating public relation opportunities at both local and county
levels. We have also been following new initiatives in networking e.g. Erewash Clinical Commission
Group and Healthwatch, fundraising and sourcing new funding streams and reviewing alternative
service delivery models; both locally and Countywide. Most importantly preparations are underway
for the tendering process with Derbyshire County Council. Input and co-operation from staff and
advisors has been vital to this, willingly given and very much appreciated.
There have been 2 significant changes in the last 12 month. Firstly, the re-organisation at Home-Start
UK has meant the loss of Kate Kendall as our family Support Specialist; although Kate is still
contactable, both have become more distant links. The second being the 4 Derbyshire Home-Start
schemes have come together as a Consortium; whilst still retaining individual independence as a
county negotiating vehicle regarding a future core funding contract with Derbyshire County Council.
Whatever challenges and changes are ahead, Home-Start Erewash is needed by families and service
providers – one strand in the support network.
Thanks go to Funders, Volunteers, “Friends Of”, Staff, Advisors and Trustees for their continuing
support and belief in what we do best i.e. keeping to the values of a volunteer led, home-visiting (and
family group), befriending support system where the focus is on giving children the best start in life
and helping parents grow in confidence, improve their relationships with their children and widen
horizons.
Celia Dyson, Chair of Trustees
Trustees Statement on Risk Assessment
The Trustees have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed and where
possible, established policies and systems to mitigate these risks. These policies are annually
reviewed to ensure that they still meet the needs of the charity. However, the Trustees consider that
the limited duration of our main funding and the competitive tendering process for renewal
constitutes a significant residual risk to the charity.
Treasurer’s Report 2012/2013
Derbyshire County Council has continued to be our main funder providing £68,186 (80%) of our total
receipts. Additional support has been received from Garfield Weston £5,000, Erewash Borough
Council £1,500, Erewash CVS £1,234 and Action on Health £1,084. In addition, individual donations
and fundraising added a further £8,856. Total income amounted to £85,871 which was a (5%)
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increase on the previous year and is an excellent achievement in the continued light of difficult
economic times.
Derbyshire County Council and Garfield Weston provided for core costs for delivering service
provision in Erewash. Erewash Borough Council, Action on Health and Erewash CVS provided funding
for the running costs of our twice weekly Family Group.
Turning to expenditure, this aggregated to £86,264 (98%) spent on service delivery. There was a
small deficit during the year of £393 but balancing the books as close as this was again a good result
and is a testament to the good housekeeping skills of our staff and trustees alike.
The economic conditions do not get any easier for us. We are currently moving into a period of great
uncertainty where the focus on staff and trustees very much will be to secure the long term future of
this Organisation. I have no doubt that with the determination of our Board and the strength and
experience of our Staff that will be achieved.
Last but not least, can I take this opportunity of thanking all our funders, donors and fundraisers for
their generous contributions during this year to enable this Organisation to provide such a valuable
service to the families of Erewash.
Andrew Buxton, Treasurer
Thank you to all our Funders
DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (Core funding)
FREEMASONS (Core Funding)
‘FRIENDS OF HOME-START EREWASH’
Raised vital funds for various family and
volunteer events
GARFIELD WESTON
Supported Families affected by Domestic Abuse
ACTION ON HEALTH, EREWASH BOROUGH COUNCIL,
EREWASH CVS, DERBYSHIRE COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
The above organisations helped support
and maintain the scheme’s Family Support Group.
COMIC RELEIF,
VIA DERBYSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Funded a new volunteer preparation course,
preparing volunteers to support families.
Councillor Brian Lucas
£500 donation - Funded two summer
family play days.
Councillor Glennice Birkin
£500 donation – Funded the running of the
scheme’s Family Support Group
Sponsored Walk – Paul Moran (Trustee)
Home-Start Trustee Paul Moran and friends
walked the Erewash Trail to raise money
for the scheme - over £1,000 was raised.
Reserves Policy
The Charity has a policy as to the level of unrestricted reserves held and aims to strive to provide and
maintain a figure, which equates to 3 months running costs.
It states: The trustees have set a reserves policy which requires:
 Reserves are maintained at a level which ensures that Home-Start’s core activity could continue
during a period of unforeseen difficulty
 A proportion of reserves are maintained in a readily realisable form
The calculation of the required level of reserves is an integral part of the scheme’s planning, budget
and forecast cycle.
Takes into account:
 Risks associated with each stream of income and expenditure being different from that budgeted
 Planned activity level
 Organisation’s commitment
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Senior Co-ordinator’s Report
This year there have been positive developments in three areas of work, which will shape the future
for Home-Start Erewash. Firstly, there has been considerable input from staff and trustees from the
four Home-Start schemes, to look at ways we can work together to raise the profile and provide
Home-Start support across the county. After many hours of discussions, guidance and deliberations,
work is currently underway to form a countywide Home-Start Derbyshire Consortium, where HomeStart Erewash has been elected to be the Lead Scheme. The Consortium group have agreed their
strategic aims which include: our commitment to providing Home-Start support across all areas of
Derbyshire, such as Chesterfield, Bolsover, North East Derbyshire and the Derbyshire Dales. It also
states our aims to work more flexibly, and to extend our service to families who do not have children
under the age of five. There has been a shift in working practice across the Home-Start network of
schemes, with many across the country forming consortiums, working outside of the Home-Start
traditional remit and working more in partnership with other organisations to deliver services.
Secondly, Home-Start UK carried out a Quality Assurance Review in February and March of this year.
Each scheme self assesses against set criteria for each of the 12 Quality Assurance standards. Every 3
years Home-Start UK conducts a full QA review based on submitted evidence from the scheme.
Although this is onerous and time consuming process, the results of all our hard work paid off. The
conclusion of the review was that Home-Start Erewash met 99% of the Performance Indicators of
Home-Start’s Quality Standards; fully meeting 181 out of 182 of the Standard Performance Indicators.
We were particularly praised for excellent practice on the production of “Best Practice Guide for
Volunteers” which was introduced as an ongoing training session for volunteers and is now used as
part of the Volunteer Preparation Course. This year the scheme joined and gained full membership of
the Derbyshire Trusted Befriending Network. We had to apply and provide evidence of good practice
to gain the accreditation. The evidence was so comprehensive we have been invited to apply for the
highest level of accreditation.
The third main focus of our work this year has been the significant rise in number of referrals for
families facing multiple and complex needs. This is replicated throughout all support services in
Erewash, with Children Centre workers, MAT teams and Health Visitors reporting the same trend. The
threshold for supporting families has increased, leading to Home-Start being asked to support
families alongside statutory services more and more. Last year 32 children in families we supported
were subject to a Child Protection Plan or were within the CAF/TAF process. This equates to over 29%
of the children 0-5 years that we supported. I am pleased to say that the new MESH (Home-Start
Monitoring and Evaluation System) highlights that of the 32 home-visited families whose support
ended during this period, 92% reported their needs that were initially identified as fully met or a
significant improvement. We continue to work with families with multiple needs and in February of
this year we secured funding from Children In Need to offer direct outreach or volunteer support to
families facing complex and/or multiple needs.
Last year I reported the changing face of support to families and a different way of working with the
introduction of the Multi Agency Teams (MAT) across Derbyshire. This year I am pleased to say we
have maintained and developed good working relationships with the MAT teams, Children’s Centres
and other new agencies working with the families we are supporting. Bren and I act as advisors to the
Children Centres and we have regular meetings with MAT teams and Health Visiting teams across the
Borough. The inter agency relationships we have forged across the Borough enables us to contribute
to local priorities, and in the planning and commissioning of services, to make sure families are given
the highest standard of appropriate support. It also establishes Home-Start as the leading volunteer
led support agency in the Derbyshire.
My thanks go to Rosie Kightley, Locality Manager for Children and Families, for her continued support
and for inviting me to be part of the Erewash Children and Young People’s Planning and
Commissioning Partnership. Rosie recognises that Home-Start volunteers and group support plays a
vital role in the integrated family of support services in the locality. My thanks are also extended to
the MAT Managers who have welcomed us and the support we can give to families, and for giving us
the opportunity to raise our profile amongst their team members. My gratitude particularly goes to
Doug Neely, Kirk Hallam MAT Manager, Anne Farmer, Long Eaton Health Visiting team and Sue Savill,
Ilkeston Health Visiting team for their continued support to the scheme, and the sound and valued
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advice they give us, I am really pleased that they have continued as essential Advisors to the Trustee
Board.
We had many events throughout the year, for families and volunteers alike. Our magnificent group of
fundraising volunteers ‘Friends Of’ have worked tirelessly all year to raise money to fund events for
the families. It is entirely down to their hard work that we held our Annual Christmas Party at Crazy
Crocs in Ilkeston this year. The party was hugely successful and enjoyable for all families, and even
Santa had time to pop in and say ‘Hello’. I cannot sing ‘Friends Of’ praises high enough. Their
support to the scheme staff, volunteers and most of all, families, is limitless and truly remarkable.
My heartfelt gratitude is extended to them all; they encompass the true spirit of Home-Start. We also
received donations from Councillor Brian Lucas and Councillor Glennice Birkin for activities for
families, we arranged 2 Family play sessions, in Ilkeston and Long Eaton, where 15 families and 10
volunteers attended. All reported they had lovely time and would like more similar events. Feedback
from families about the events and the support from Home-Start have been extremely positive. For
the first time we held an open day for prospective volunteers, giving them the chance to come and
find out more about what we do and ask questions, in order to establish if this is the volunteering
opportunity for them. It was very well attended and something we are keen to repeat and integrate
into our recruitment process. Our prep course started in April through until June, with 12 new
volunteers completing the course and now supporting families. We also held support meetings for
volunteers in June, one in Ilkeston and one in Long Eaton, with 14 volunteers attending, sharing their
experiences and offering support to each other. In November, a study day was also offered to the
volunteers, this was delivered by an organisation called ‘SOBBS’, Survivors of Bereaved by Suicide; this
was very well supported and extremely well received by the volunteers and staff who attended. We
also had a support meeting in January where ‘Working Links’ came to talk to our volunteers about the
support they give to families. It was really informative and was the beginnings of a very positive
working relationship with the organisation. Our volunteer numbers have remained steady throughout
the year. Of those volunteers that left the scheme this year, 60% of them went into training or
employment within health, social care or child care. We also welcomed a new trustee to the scheme,
enhancing the skills and knowledge of our existing board. My admiration for all of our volunteers,
Home-visiting, ‘Friends Of’ and Trustees is genuine and heartfelt, and all of their efforts and hard
work have massively contributed to the success of the scheme and all that we have achieved in this
last year. You genuinely are what keeps me going, and makes my job the best in the world!
Last year we hosted some ‘High profile’ visitors to the scheme, highlighting the interest in the
scheme and the support to families in Erewash given by the scheme. In August 2012 we welcomed
the Major of Erewash, Jennifer Hulls, Councillor Chris Corbett, Leader of Erewash Borough Council,
and Councillor Alex Phillips, Leader of the Labour Group in Erewash. This was an extremely beneficial
and uplifting meeting, where both Councillors and the Major offered continued support to the
scheme. In September, Councillor Barry Lewis visited the scheme, he is a huge supporter of Homestart and is very familiar with the work we do, but was unfamiliar with our scheme in particular. The
meeting was very positive in terms of useful information on the upcoming tendering process and the
priorities of Derbyshire County Council, and the focus for the new contract. However, the best part of
the meeting was Mr Lewis’s warmth, enthusiasm and unquestionable support for the work we do and
the news that our current contract with Derbyshire County Council had been extended until March
2014. On 5th October Ian Thomas, Strategic Director for Children and Young Adults came to meet
Staff and Trustees at the scheme; his first visit to a Home-Start scheme. Ian was very interested in the
part we played in Integrated Children’s Services to families and how we worked with other agencies in
the Borough and across Derbyshire. He said our main ‘Unique Selling Point’ was that we work at grass
roots level and “You can connect with people we can’t”. He was very interested in our self referrals,
showing that families “choose to come to Home-Start” rather than engage with other services. He
suggested we demonstrate the value of our volunteers in terms of skill base, training and ongoing
support and development, as well as the cost effectiveness of using volunteers. He was pleased to
hear we were familiar with the ‘Troubled Families’ agenda, now referred to as ‘Thriving Families’, and
welcomed Home-Start support to this project. Finally at last year’s AGM, we welcomed Kay Bewes,
CEO of Home-Start UK as our guest speaker. It was wonderful for her to visit the scheme and meet
families and volunteers, as well as staff and trustees, before she retired earlier this year. We thank all
of our special guests who have taken the time over the last year to visit the scheme and endorse the
good work we do.
I attended a training event at Home-Start UK on the Maximising Income scheme offered with Turn2us,
looking at ways to help families with issues such as debt and benefits. We hope to roll this out to
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volunteers/families as we anticipate an increase in the number of families experiencing financial
hardship due to the Welfare Reforms in April 2013. Bren attended further training in Safeguarding
and Domestic Abuse, Shaken Babies and Substance Misuse. Bren also attended the Incredible Years
Positive Parenting Course, and is now is part of a pool of course facilitators in Erewash and is
currently helping to deliver a course running at Cotmanhay Children’s Centre.
I must end with a few ‘Thank you’s’. Firstly, on behalf of everyone involved with the scheme, I would
like to extend our sincere gratitude to all of our wonderful trustees. They have worked tirelessly this
year to support the scheme, under increased pressure due to the formation of the consortium and
the uncertainty of our future contract with DCC. The working relationship between trustees and staff
is as strong as it ever has been. A particular ‘Thank you to Paul Moran and his friends and family for
completing a gruelling 30 Erewash walk, and raised over £1,000. Their dedication on that rainy cold
day was truly inspiring. Secondly, a massive thank you to my wonderful staff team. The success of the
Family Support Group is testament to the genuine warmth of our group workers Dawn and Jo, who
have a real ability to put parents and children at ease, leading to parents choosing to come to our
family group in preference to larger and busier groups. Tina has worked so hard this year, as always,
but especially in collecting evidence in preparation for the QA review, keeping the office running
smoothly and keeping me sane, (well most of the time!). Bren has continued to embrace her
expanding and demanding role with enthusiasm and an energy I can only aspire to having. They are
all truly amazing women, who make it an absolute pleasure to come to work. Finally, to the most
amazing team of volunteers, who visit our families, week on week, offering befriending support.
Without you, and your commitment to ‘Home-Start’, we simply wouldn’t exist. As demonstrated, the
many hours given freely every week is valued and appreciated by everyone; families, the scheme,
referrers and the wider family support network. You are ‘the shining stars’ in our community.
And finally, this year we joined the worldwide web with our website www.home-starterewash.co.uk
going live. Thanks to Paul, one of our valued Trustees for the considerable input he has put into this
project. We also joined the social networking world with our very own Facebook page and Twitter
feed.
Looking forward to our 25th year, the Trustee Board and Staff of Home-Start Erewash are committed to
working cohesively together with the other 3 schemes in Derbyshire in order to strengthen these
relationships further. We expect a rise in demand for our service as many families with young
children struggle to understand, adapt and cope with a range of Government reforms including:
Welfare Reform Act 2012 introducing radical reforms to the benefits and tax credits system.
Universal Credit replacing most means-tested benefits. Disability Living Allowance for adults will be
replaced by a new Personal Independence Payment and a benefits cap is being introduced which will
affect many families on low income and changes to Legal Aid regarding family work, including
Domestic Abuse cases. On top of the normal stresses and strains on families, Home-Start volunteers
have never been more needed and the support they give more valued. We look forward to being able
to continue to support our partners in delivering holistic, effective and appropriate support to the
whole family. The phrase ‘Think Family’ now used in Derbyshire has been the approach Home-Start
has always had, in the past, now and in the future.
Jo Hallam, Senior Co-ordinator
Quality Assurance Review 2012/2013
Quality Assurance Review – February & March 2013
This year we had our Quality Assurance Review by Home-Start UK. Although this was an onerous and
time consuming process, the results of all our hard work paid off. The conclusion of the review was
that Home-Start Erewash met 99% of the Performance Indicators of Home-Start’s Quality Standards;
fully meeting 181 out of 182 of the Standard Performance Indicators.
The following are quotes taken from the Final Quality Assurance Report
Commitment Shown to Quality Assurance by the Scheme
Home-Start Erewash demonstrated full commitment and compliance with the Home-Start QA
System by providing a full set of completed self assessment reports and action plans. The scheme
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also provided all requested documentation for the desk top review. The scheme was friendly and
co-operative throughout the site visit, assisting the QA team with all enquiries and making the
necessary arrangements for requested interviews and completion of the review. Full co-operation
and engagement was forthcoming from Home-Start Erewash in relation to the timely completion
of the final stage of the review process.
General Observations re Specific Scheme Difficulties or Practice Concerns
The scheme is in active talks with the other 3 Derbyshire schemes with regards to working as a
consortium in preparation of the expected tendering of services by the Local Authority. The scheme
has been elected Lead Scheme for this Consortium. The Scheme’s senior worker and Chair are
currently attending meetings on a monthly basis placing additional pressure on the scheme’s time
and resources.
Observations of Excellent Practice
The scheme has produced a “Best Practice Guide for Volunteers” which was introduced as an ongoing
training session for volunteers and is now used as part of the volunteer preparation course. The
guide details what the scheme require of volunteers what they don’t want volunteers to do and the
impact of a volunteers behaviour/actions on the scheme e.g. if volunteers don’t visit and don’t
inform the scheme the impact this could have on the family and on the scheme’s reputation.
Observations of Good Practice
The scheme was able to demonstrate particularly good practice in:
 Evidencing the quality of service provision e.g. Membership of “Trusted Befriending Network”
 Staff Induction – Welcome Pack
Range of Services
Home-Start Erewash delivers the Home-Start core service of parent volunteers supporting families
under stress, in their own homes, where there is at least one child under five. The scheme also
provides a range of complimentary services for their home-visited families such as family groups,
outings and social events.
Progress Made Since Last Review
The scheme was last reviewed in 2009 and met 76% of the performance indicators across the 16
Standards reviewed.
During the two day review, the reviewers spoke to 2 Volunteers, 2 Families and 5
Referrers.
What Volunteers told us:
“I didn’t think they’d have me because of my disability – when they said I could volunteer it was
fantastic”
“The preparation course is really good”
“There’s nothing I can’t talk to the Co-ordinator about”.
“I really enjoy my time with the family”
“It’s done both me and the family a world of good”
“They couldn’t have matched me with a better family”
“I really enjoy volunteering”
“I benefit from it myself”
“It’s lovely to be thanked for what you do”
“I feel valued as a volunteer”
“The frequency of supervision is fine and I know I can always get in touch if I need to”
“Support and supervision is really good”
“The fact that my family is coming to talk to you today shows how far she has come”
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What Families told us:
They were aware of Home-Start’s stance on confidentiality and
that co-ordinators had visited explained what the service could offer and asked them about their and
their children’s needs. That they visited regularly to check that everything was OK.
That they felt they could contact the scheme any time
“I couldn’t cope without Home-Start now”
“Home-Start Erewash has changed our lives from no sleep and total carnage to calmness”
What Referrers told us:
“They’re fantastic, I can’t fault the team”
“Families feel special having a volunteer picked especially for them”
“Staff and volunteers are very much advocates for families”
“We can trust the Home-Start process”, “They are very supporting and willing”
“Not a single family has ever said no thank you to being referred”
“They’re excellent”, “Staff are supportive”, “They’re very professional”
“They are well known and well regarded”
“I’d like to make a special mention of Jo and Bren and their involvement in the development of multiagency working”
“Home-Start Erewash are embedded in Derbyshire CC work”
Family Events
This year the scheme organised two indoor play days at Crazy Crocs play centre in Ilkeston and
Cyril’s Nut Hut, Long Eaton. This was only made possible due to a kind donation of £500 from
Councillor Brian Lucas, a keen supporter of Home-Start Erewash.
The Christmas Party was also at Crazy Crocs and once again was a great success and thoroughly
enjoyed by everyone. Each child received a fantastic toy from ‘Santa’ which was made possible by
Asda, Long Eaton and The Heart FM Toy Appeal last year, but the biggest thank you goes to ‘Friends
Of’ Home-Start Erewash because without their fundraising it would not have been possible to put on
this event.
We asked all the families if they enjoyed the play days, and this is what they
said:
“It was great to meet other families and volunteers, great location;
we all had lots of fun”.
“Yes we enjoyed it, will be taking the girls again, I will be able to
meet other parents with babies of the same age”.
“The day was brilliant and worthwhile for my daughter. I had a
good chance to speak to other families and made some good
friends”.
“Yes I really enjoyed the day; all the Home-Start ladies were helpful
and made me feel welcome”.
“Yes it was great! Lovely idea and I enjoyed meeting other families
who have volunteers”.
- 11 -
Picture: Santa and his helper!
Paul Moran - Trustee, Tina
Walker - Administrator
‘Friends Of’ Home-Start Erewash
‘Friends Of’ Home-Start Erewash continue to work hard with their fundraising to enable Home-Start
Erewash to provide special extras for the families being supported through the scheme.
This small group of volunteers meets regularly to discuss ideas and organise events to raise funds.
This year money has been raised through car boot sales, a summer fair, a make up evening, the sale
of Webb Ivory cards and gifts, eBay sales and generous donations.
As a result, the money fully funded the Family Christmas Party including transport and extra gifts for
the children.
More help is always welcome and any fundraising ideas are always appreciated.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has helped and donated either their time or items for sale over the
past year.
Elaine, Pauline, Nicky, Anita and Louise
‘Friends Of’ Home-Start Erewash
Corporate Responsibility Scheme
Home-Start Erewash has launched a range of bids/schemes intended to secure the future of the
service to ensure that families within the Borough can access this invaluable support when they
require it. One such initiative is the Corporate Responsibility Scheme.
We are looking to enlist 160 business partners from within the boundaries of Erewash to donate £500
each year to secure the future of this essential service. Initial take up has been slow but 2 local
partners have subscribed so far, Butler & Willow and Three Valleys Housing. This money will help
guarantee the scheme's operation each year.
All partners will be kept updated on the scheme's progress and be invited to see the scheme in action
and to monitor the progress or even get involved if they are interested in doing so (all optional). We
will detail support on a dedicated page on our website and inform people of that support in our
various communications and press releases.
Butler & Willow become the first local company to ‘adopt’
Home-Start Erewash as their chosen charity through the
Corporate Responsibility Scheme. The Long Eaton based
firm, established in 1993, employ 18 people to run their
office design, refurbishment and storage / racking business.
James Willow (Operations Director) is seen here handing a
cheque for £500 to Bren from Home-Start Erewash. Both
James and fellow Director Jonathan Butler recognised the
essential work undertaken by Home-Start Erewash in terms
of supporting local families through the fully
trained volunteers.
Three Valleys Housing become the next local company to
‘adopt’ the scheme. Three Valleys is a housing association
based in Long Eaton, in the Borough of Erewash.
Established in 2002 to take the transfer of the housing
stock from Erewash Borough Council. Three Valleys is the
biggest landlord in Erewash and the main provider of social
housing. Sarah Trueman, Manager at Three Valleys is seen
here handing a cheque for £500 to Bren and Jo from HomeStart Erewash. Sarah has now joined the Board of Trustees
at Home-Start Erewash.
For more information on the Corporate Responsibility Scheme – Contact Home-Start Erewash on,
0115 9304640 and request a brochure.
- 12 -
Costs, Statistics and Outcomes
This section is based on the Home-Start monitoring and evaluation system. It seeks to identify the
reason why families look to Home-Start for support and how they consider their needs have been
met. It also demonstrates the how cost effective and highly efficient the scheme is in terms of
running costs to actual service provision.
The scheme had a total income of £85,860 in 2012/13. £68,186 came from Derbyshire County
Council 80% of the total year’s funding for the scheme. It cost Derbyshire County Council £501 per
year to support a child through Home-Start Erewash. The cost to support a family is £1,209 per year.
During the last year 53 trained volunteers gifted a minimum average of 3hrs a week (some volunteers
support more than once a week depending on the specific needs of the family and some support
more than one family at the same time). At a minimum of 3hrs per week (excluding travel,
supervision and training), based on the current minimum wage per hour £6.31 this contribution can
be costed in the region of £54,139, (number of volunteers x 3hrs =165 hrs @ 6.31= £1,041.15 per
week).
The service is highly efficient in terms of annual running costs to actual service provision. Over 7000
hours are spent each year supporting families.
Family and Volunteer Statistics
Total number of volunteers available to support families
in the year
Total number of volunteers recruited in the year
Total number of referrals received this year
Total number of families supported this year
Total number of families receiving
home-visiting support
Number of families receiving
home-visiting and group
Number of families receiving group support only
Number of families where support ceased
Number of families who had support
up to 6 months
Number of families who had support
6 months – 1 year
Number of families who had support
1- 2 years
Number of families who had support over 2 years
Number of families who are still supported at 31st
March 2013
Total number of children supported
Total number of older children (over 5)
Number of children with a disability
136
26
6
Number of parents with a disability
10
Number of families affected by disability
16
Number of children in Child Protection
14
Number of Children with CAF
17
- 13 -
53
12
60
71
61
7
3
32
8
15
6
3
37
Reasons for family referrals
Parenting Skills
Managing children’s behaviour
Being involved in the children’s development/learning
Parents’ well-being
Coping with physical health
Coping with mental health
Coping with feeling isolated
Parent’s self-esteem
Children’s well-being
Coping with child’s physical health
Coping with child’s mental health
Family management
Managing the household budget
The day-to-day running of the home
Stress caused by conflict in the family
Coping with extra work caused by multiple birth
Access to other services
9
13
19
35
38
30
13
10
6
9
19
14
18
Of the 68 families reporting a need for an improvement in their physical and/or emotional health and
well being, 87% reported their specific support needs were fully met or that they had noticed a
significant improvement at the end of support.
22.5% of supported families are affected by disability.
Out of the 71 families supported 98% felt Home-Start support had helped.
19% of supported families have older children.
Referral Sources - 60 new referrals to Home-Start Erewash were received. 61% were from Midwives,
Health Visitors and Other Health Professionals. 33.3% of families referred and supported in this period
were referred from Children Centres, MAT teams or Social Care.
Number of families who have been supported by Home-Start to access other services.
Credibility and Quotes
- 14 -
Kirstie Allsopp (November 2013)
“This is an amazing organisation – on the ground, helping people. If you want to help anyone
in the UK, Home-Start is the best way to do it”.
Dr Suzanne Zeedyk (5th February 2013)
“Home-Start helps our society to ensure we are not neglecting families. We neglect at our
peril, for young brains are shaped by what parents are able to give their children. If we do
not support parents in that giving, we hurt ourselves, in the costs of health, social work,
prisons. So Home-Start offers services not just to families but to taxpayers and
politicians. Thank you, Home-Start”.
Alan Titchmarsh, celebrity gardener and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of
Hampshire (16th May 2013)
“Without people like you giving your time and piece of yourself, this county would not run;
you are the cogs, not the oil”.
Referrer’s Review of Support
A letter received from a referrer who was involved in the Quality Assurance Review.
“I'm so sorry I can’t be with you in person to talk to you about the tremendous support our
local Home-Start team offers me and my family allocations.
Whenever I get a new allocation of a family they are always on my must have list of services
to be involved.
Due to the nature of our work with our families I can’t always offer the amount of time
and support required.
I feel confident when I make a referral to Home-Start that the staff team will look at my
request for support holistically. They will make every effort to fulfil my family’s needs and
add to make the best package of support successful and realistic.
Due to their expertise in getting to know our families they select the volunteer who they
feel matches the requirement and the personality of the family as a whole”.
Children’s Centre Worker
- 15 -
Comments made by Families
We asked all our families if they would share with you how Home-Start Erewash
has helped and this is what they said:
“Home-Start has made an enormous difference to my family. I rely a great deal on my mum and it is
good to know I have my volunteer as support too. Makes me a calmer, happier mum”.
“My volunteer is brilliant, I would recommend having a volunteer if a family need it or becoming a
volunteer”.
“I will always remember what Home-Start has done and always be very grateful”.
“My volunteer has given me something to look forward to each week. Helps me achieve all the little
things I feel guilty about not doing!”.
“I am so thrilled by this organisation and how generous these individuals are with their own time.
This is certainly something I would consider doing myself once my children are grown up”.
“They have made me feel less isolated and have introduced me to lots of new friends”.
“Home-Start has helped me immensely with support and praise for my parenting”.
“My volunteer is very helpful with everything from being there for me to talk to, helping feeding the
girls, taking them to clinic appointments”.
“My volunteer gives me some time and space from my children which helps me appreciate them more.
I believe the time away from my children kept me happier and calmer and a better parent. My
children had her undivided attention for the 2 hours she is with us. They like the routine of her
coming every week. My children see our volunteer as a really special person”.
“Home-Start intervenes before our situation got to a crisis. It’s a wonderful prevention service”.
- 16 -
Acknowledgements and Thanks
To all our fantastic volunteers
A big thank you to all our volunteers past and present who have
supported our families and children during this year, with your
continued commitment we can keep on providing support and friendship
for all our families – thanks to you, you really have made a difference!
Volunteer Training
We have run 1 Volunteer Course during this period; our course is highly rated and
covers the following subjects:
Commitment, Confidentiality, Being a volunteer, How Home-Start helps families, The Role of
Health Visitors and Post Natal Illness, Child Development and Importance of Play, Equality,
Fairness and Diversity, Listening Skills, Managing Debt, Domestic Abuse, Safeguarding
Children, Family Life, Supporting Parents & Children.
Volunteer Support Days
Working Links - This organisation helps families make positive changes and helps with
challenges such as: debt, housing, money worries, lifestyle changes, health issues and
relationship problems.
Volunteer Open Day - Recruitment Open Day for new volunteers
SOBBS - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide - This organisation exists to meet the
needs, and breaks the isolation of those bereaved by the suicide of a close relative or friend.
In addition to the above our Volunteers have been offered:
Volunteer Reunions, Christmas Lunch Celebration and ongoing Support and Supervision
Sessions.
A big thank you to those who have spoken on our
Volunteers Courses/Development Days
Your support of our scheme is appreciated and is invaluable to
volunteers as they visit families.
- 17 -
HOME-START EREWASH
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2013
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Incoming resources from
generated funds
- Voluntary income
- Investment income
Restricted
Funds
£
Total Funds Total Funds
Year to 31 Year to 31
Mar 2013
Mar 2012
£
£
8,231
11
-
8,231
11
9,744
12
Incoming resources
from the charitable
activities:
Other income
68,186
625
8,818
-
77,004
625
71,120
759
Total incoming
resources
77,053
8,818
85,871
81,635
-
-
-
-
Charitable activities
Governance costs
78,278
1,778
6,208
-
84,486
1,778
92,928
2,101
Total resources
expended
80,056
6,208
86,264
95,029
Net
incoming/(outgoing)
resources before
transfers
Transfer between funds
(3,003)
-
2,610
-
(393)
-
(13,394)
-
Net movement in
funds
(3,003)
2,610
(393)
(13,394)
Funds brought forward
137,452
328
137,780
151,174
Funds carried forward
134,449
2,938
137,387
137,780
Resources expended
Costs of generated
funds
- fundraising and
publicity
- 18 -
HOME-START EREWASH
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUA
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AC
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2013
Year to
31 Mar
2013
£
Year to
31 Mar
2012
£
Income
85,860
81,623
Total expenditure
86,264
95,029
Operating surplus
(404)
(13,406)
11
12
(393)
(13,394)
Other income
Interest receivable and similar income
Net retained surplus/loss for the financial
year
2013
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling
due within one year
2012
£
£
£
115,000
115,000
4,825
19,562
6,325
16,455
24,387
22,780
2,000
-
Net current assets
22,387
22,780
Total assets less current liabilities
137,387
137,780
Net assets
137,387
137,780
Funds
Restricted
Unrestricted – general reserves
2,938
134,449
328
137,452
TOTAL FUNDS
137,387
137,780
- 19 -
HOME-START EREWASH
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2013
For the year ended 31 March 2013 the company was entitled to exemption from audit
under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors responsibilities:
(i)
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for
the year in question in accordance with section 476; and
(ii) The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the
requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of
accounts.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions
for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the members of
the committee and are signed on their behalf by: C Dyson (Chair)
Company Registration Number 5303098
The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the
year as set out above.
All of the activities of the charity are classed as continuing.
A full set and signed copy of the Annual Accounts can you obtained by contacting the
office: Tel: 0115 9304640
A HUGE
THANKS
TO YOU
ALL
- 20 -