About Home-Start
Who we are
Home-Start is one of the UK’s leading family support charities. Our ethos is to help parents build better lives and better futures for their children. At Home-Start Elmbridge we do this by recruiting and training local parent volunteers to offer practical and emotional support to families in their own homes. We also have dedicated Carer Support Co-ordinators who support families with illness, disability or additional needs and we offer other types of support such as crisis support and counselling.
What we do
The criteria for our support is:
- The family has a child under five
- They live in the Borough of Elmbridge
- The family has a need and would benefit from weekly volunteer support or specialised support from our other services
- The family has given consent for referral (if referred by outside agency)
Areas we cover
Helping families in Elmbridge. During the 2024-2025 financial year we supported…
Families
Children
Volunteers
Meet the Team
Carol Hodges
Director of Services
With over 10 years’ experience with Home-Start Elmbridge, Carol manages the team as well as supporting a small number of families. She works closely with the Directors, Home-Start UK and Home-Start Surrey to develop and deliver the Strategic Plan and services. Having previously worked with looked after children, Carol is passionate about the work of Home-Start, and has seen first hand the difference that support in the early years can make to children’s outcomes and how important this early intervention support is.  She enjoys working collaboratively and in partnership with all agencies, both statutory and non-statutory.   Safeguarding is paramount to all the work carried out by Home-Start and Carol oversees Safeguarding training for staff and volunteers.
Elin Cruse
Fundraising and Marketing Manager
Elin joined Home-Start in April 2026, previously having worked in arts marketing, most recently for a charitable arts centre. She is responsible for driving the financial support for the Chairty and raising awareness of what we do.
ecruse@home-start-elmbridge.org.uk
Daphne Sohl
Senior Family Support Coordinator
Having worked in various roles with Elmbridge based children and families for more than 20 years, Daphne brings a wealth of experience to the role.Â
Children’s safety and wellbeing is of paramount importance to her, and she is keen to make sure families receive maximum benefit from all that Home-Start Elmbridge offers so that their lives and futures become better and brighter.
Cathy Perea
Senior Family Support Coordinator and Safeguarding Lead
Cathy’s background was in Secondary Education and mentoring young adults, which led to her wanting to work with Early Years and making a difference from the start.
Cathy has been working with Home Start since 2017 as a Family Support Co-Ordinator and is also a Safeguarding Lead. She is committed to her work and has a passion for the welfare of children. She continually strives to achieve better outcomes for our families.
She has gained a lot of experience from working on Serious Case Study Reviews and then implementing the learning in her practice and supporting and advising the team.
Carol Robins
Over 5s Project Family Support Coordinator
Carol has worked in Elmbridge supporting families for over 15 years, including as a Children’s Centre Manager. She now coordinates our Over 5s Project. Carol is a firm believer in the benefit of attending a parenting course and facilitates a termly Challenging Behaviour Parenting Course for parents of primary school aged children. She also runs a lively Parent Support Café every other Tuesday in Walton and loves to see parents coming together, sharing experiences and supporting each other.
Nikki Nicholls
Carer Support Family Coordinator
Before joining Home-Start, Nikki worked as a Nursery Manager and then for 12 years as a Super Nanny for the NHS; her background and experience are invaluable to the team and to our families. In particular, Nikki is passionate in supporting those families with children with additional needs, providing advice, helping with completion of DLA forms and signposting to other agencies. When not working, Nikki enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, music and walking her dog, Penny.
Christine Mundy
Family Support Coordinator
Christine previously trained as a primary school teacher and then went on to support parents in a youth justice environment. Working for Home-Start Elmbridge as a Family Support Coordinator since 2018, she has experience working with parents who have children with additional needs. Christine also runs our weekly Under 5s Drop-In Cafe.
Rebecca Kingsnorth
Family Support Coordinator
Rebecca joined Home-Start in 2019 as a home-visiting volunteer. After a short stint as Office Administrator she joined the team of Family Support Co-ordinators, a role she finds challenging but rewarding.  A mum to three boys, Rebecca is passionate about the importance of early years development and sees first-hand the difference this charity makes.
Jodie Taylor
Family Support and Group Coordinator
Jodie has worked as a primary school teacher in the local community for the past thirteen years. As a Family Support and Group Co-ordinator, she is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of local children and their families. Jodie is excited to bring her experience and compassion to a role dedicated to supporting families and helping children thrive.
Debbie Groves
Charity Project and Support Officer
Debbie joined Home-Start Elmbridge in 2021, having previously worked as a volunteer and administrator for two other Home-Start schemes in Surrey. She supports the Scheme Director and the team of Family Support Coordinators with administration including organisation of events and recruitment of volunteers.
Kate Chicken
Administrator
Kate has been involved with Home-Start Elmbridge for many years, including 6 as a home-visiting volunteer. Her experience working directly with supported families is invaluable; as well as providing admin support to the office Kate co-facilitates the Volunteer Preparation Course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Families
Will people think I’m a ‘bad parent’ if I have to ask for support from Home-Start?
How do I go about getting a Home-Start volunteer?
Just give us a call on 07731 861598 or email us at enquiries@home-start-elmbridge.org.uk and we will contact you. Or if you have a health visitor or social worker ask them to refer you to us.
How do you decide which volunteer would be best for me?
We will also ask you about the kind of volunteer you would prefer; some parents prefer a volunteer who is quite a bit older whilst others would prefer to have someone of similar age and who have experienced the same kind of problems.
The organiser will then try to match you with an available volunteer.
If a health visitor or social worker thinks I need a volunteer will I be made to have one even if I don’t want one?
How would a volunteer help me?
For at least 2 hours every week you will have someone who is there to help you and who you can share things with.
Who will know that Home-Start is supporting me?
All information is treated in the strictest confidence except where a child is perceived to be at risk of harm.
Volunteers
I would like to be a volunteer but am worried whether I will be able to do it. I don’t want to feel a failure. What help will I get from Home-Start?
We want volunteers who are local people who have parenting experience and who genuinely want to support families who need help.
Without our volunteers we would not be able to deliver our service.
We provide training for new volunteers which lasts for 6 weeks; at the training sessions you will be able to ask questions and meet existing volunteers.
You will be able to ring us any time and we will want to see you for support sessions at regular times through the year.
I haven’t done any training for years and I didn’t do very well at school. Will there be a lot of writing involved in the training or a test at the end?
We aim to make the preparation course as enjoyable and ‘hands on’ as possible.
What kinds of things would I be doing with my family?
They might want help in taking their children to the park; or they might want you to go to the local children’s centre with them; or they might just want someone to talk to; or they might want help in organising their home or money.
Before we match you up with a family we tell you about the type of support they need and then you decide if you can meet that need.
Directors / Trustees
Will I need to have a professional skill to be a trustee?
You will be able to ring us any time and we will want to see you for support sessions at regular times through the year.
Will I be at risk financially if things go wrong with Home-Start Elmbridge?
Policies
We have a number of policies available for download. Please click on one of the items below to download a PDF version of the policy.Â
Safeguarding & Protecting Children Policy
Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy
Equality, Fairness and Diversity Policy
Compliments, Concerns and Complaints Policy
Whistleblowing Policy
Current vacancies
Home Visiting Volunteers
Could you make a difference to young families?
Home-Start Elmbridge are looking for volunteers with parenting experience to offer support and friendship to local families.
Many parents need help, friendship, advice or support during those early years before children go off to school and your experience as a parent can help other families.
We are currently looking for Home-Visiting volunteers to offer one to one practical and emotional support to local families in the families own homes, for 2 hours a week.
The only real ‘qualification’ you need to become a Home-Start volunteer is experience of bringing up children. You will be friendly and understanding and have a practical approach to problems. You don’t judge people, you accept them for what they are and then strive to support them as they try to give their children the best possible start in life.
You will be thoroughly trained and supported before and during your time with a family and all expenses will be reimbursed.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact the office for further information or call us on 07731 861598. CLICK HERE to download Volunteer Application Form.
Family Support and Group Coordinator
Family Support & Group Coordinator
Home-Start ElmbridgeÂ
Salary:              £31000 FTE
Hours:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 25 hours per week
Contract:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Permanent
Location:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Home-Start Elmbridge, Walton-on-Thames
Responsible to: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Director of Services
Home-Start is one of the UK’s leading family support charities. Our ethos is to help parents build better lives and better futures for their children. At Home-Start Elmbridge we do this by recruiting and training local parent volunteers to offer practical and emotional support to families in their own homes. We also have dedicated Carer Support Co-ordinators who support families with illness, disability or additional needs and we offer other types of support such as crisis support and counselling.
To meet the increased demand for our services, we are recruiting for an additional Family Support and Group Co-ordinator.
About the role
 As Family Support and Group Co-ordinator, you will be responsible for:Â
- Ensuring allocated caseload of families receive the most appropriate form of support, monitoring and reviewing from referral to completion
- Implementing good safeguarding practice in all areas of work, promoting children’s welfare at all times
- Contributing to the recruitment and ongoing training, and providing regular support and supervision of home-visiting volunteers
- Planning and running Home-Start Elmbridge group/s as required
- Ensuring effective communication and working in partnership with other professionals
For full details, please read the job description and person specification.Â
We’re looking for someone with:Â
- Proven experience of supporting parents and young children in a paid or voluntary capacity
- A solid understanding of safeguarding practices and experience working with vulnerable families
- Knowledge of current legislation and policies relating to children and families
- Knowledge of other agencies providing services for children and families
- Ability to supervise and manage volunteers and to work as part of a team
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and relationship building abilities
- Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills
- A commitment to the values and ethos of Home-Start
- A clean driver’s licence and access to a car
- Ability to work flexibly, occasional evening or weekend work
What we offer:
Home-Start Elmbridge is a supportive, family friendly employer. We offer:
Flexible working (within service need)
Generous annual leave
Pension contribution
Ongoing training and professional development
The opportunity to be part of a well-respected local charity making a meaningful difference to families’ lives
This post requires an Enhanced DBS check with Child Workforce barred list information (under the Adult and Child Workforce). Employment is subject to satisfactory references and DBS. We will only discuss or request criminal record details once a conditional offer has been made, in line with Home-Start Elmbridge’s Safer Recruitment Policy.
Contact Information:
If you would like to talk to us about the role, please contact Carol Hodges, Director of Services by email chodges@home-start-elmbridge.org.uk or by phone 07731 861598.
To apply, please complete an application form, outlining your suitability for the role along with an Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form to enquiries@home-start-elmbridge.org.uk
Application Pack:
- Family Support and Group Coordinator Job Description
- Family Support and Group Coordinator Person Specification
- Application Form
- Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form
Home-Start Elmbridge is committed to safeguarding and to equality, diversity and inclusion. Links to our Safeguarding and Equality policies can be found on our website:Â www.homestartelmbridge.org.uk We welcome applications from people with disabilities and anyone who may need adjustments or support to complete the application process is encouraged to contact us during the recruitment process.
Schedule and Interview Process
- Closing date: Friday 7th August 2026
- Shortlisting: Candidates notified by Wednesday 12th August 2026
- Formal interview: Â Tuesday 18th August at Home-Start Elmbridge offices in Walton-on-Thames (panel interview & presentation)
Could you be a Home-Start Elmbridge Trustee?
Trustee with background in strategic planning, organisational change, governance, business change management, and/or process improvement
We are seeking someone with a professional background or a strong awareness in the areas of transitional/organisational change to join our Board of Trustees to offer strategic support to Home-Start Elmbridge – a charity committed to promoting the welfare of families.
With our Head Office based in Walton on Thames, Surrey, our charity offers practical and emotional support to families across the Borough of Elmbridge who are struggling to cope for a variety of reasons. We’re there for parents when they need us the most, because childhood can’t wait.
The role of Trustee is an important one – bringing the required governance and strategic guidance that every charity needs to run successfully and ethically. Home-Start Elmbridge Trustees typically attend a two-hour Board meeting every six weeks and provide strategic and governance support as and when required.
The most important attribute that a Trustee can bring to our Board is a passion for improving the lives of children. The role of Trustee is a voluntary one and as such is rewarded by knowing that the time and commitment you bring to the Board directly results in more families getting the vital support they need, so they stand the best chance of providing a nurturing and safe home for their children.
If you feel that that you could offer your time and expertise to the Home-Start Elmbridge Board and would like to find out more about the Trustee role, please get in touch with our Chair, Kathy Clark, to arrange a short telephone conversation. You can contact Kathy at kclark@home-start-elmbridge.org.uk