What we do

If you are a parent or a carer (with at least one child under 5) and you are finding things tough for any reason, you might find support from Home-Start Dacorum helpful.

We support families facing a variety of problems including:

• Loneliness
• Isolation
• Post-natal depression
• Disabilities or ill health
• Multiple births
• Relationship difficulties
• Bereavement
• Domestic violence

Home-Start Dacorum is based in Old Town, Hemel Hempstead, and serves the community of Dacorum from Kings Langley in the East of the Borough, to Long Marston in the West, and Markyate in the North - and everywhere in between! Established in 1984 Home-Start Dacorum is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. We have 1 full-time manager, 3 part-time coordinators, a part-time administrator, 7 Trustees and more than 50 volunteers all who work to serve our community.

Please look at our map for more detailed location details. If you live in another part of the country then you can find the address of your local Home-Start scheme from the Home-Start UK website.

Our approach

Home-Start Dacorum volunteers visit families regularly in their own homes. The visits are usually once a week for two or three hours. The volunteer and the family decide together when to meet and how the time will be spent.

Sometimes a parent may want someone to listen, someone to talk to - or even someone to share an adult conversation! At another time they may need more practical help with the shopping or playing with the children. Information about families is confidential and never disclosed to anyone outside of Home-Start Dacorum (except where a child may be at risk).

As well as home visiting, Home-Start Dacorum currently runs two family groups within Dacorum. These informal groups are a meeting place for families with children under the age of 5. They are an opportunity to socialise, relax and make new friends. Click here for more information on our family groups.

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