2024 REVIEW
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INTRODUCTION FROM TARA SPENCE, CEO
Back in 2007, when I first joined Home-Start in Suffolk, my eldest daughter was almost two. Now, fast forward to this September, and we’ve just packed that same little girl off to university. It’s been a big life change, and it’s reminded me of how emotional and challenging transitions can be—whether it’s sending a child off to school for the first time, welcoming a new family member, or dealing with unexpected challenges like job loss or illness. These are the kinds of transitions many of the families we support face every day.
During the Uni drop off, I was fortunate to have my husband by my side, but many of the families we work with don’t have that same kind of support. That’s where you, our volunteers, make such a huge difference. Whether you’re helping a new parent who’s feeling overwhelmed, supporting a family during a tough separation, or just being a reliable, friendly face, you are the steady hand that helps families navigate their toughest times.
This year has been full of transitions for HomeStart Suffolk too. We’ve been fortunate to welcome Ellen, Eleanor, Lucy, Cat, Charlene, and Beckie to our staff, and Stacey has recently been promoted to Partnerships and Fundraising Manager. It’s always special to see volunteers like Beckie, Charlene, Ellen, and Lucy transition into staff roles, and it’s a testament to the talent and commitment within our volunteer team.
We’re also grateful for our new trustees—Julia, Anne, Alex, Julie, Ruth, and Rickie—who are working closely with our existing board to support the governance and strategic direction of HomeStart Suffolk. Their contributions are helping us continue to grow and adapt to the ever-evolving needs of the families we support.
It was also wonderful to see so many of you at the Community Champions Volunteer Conference. Your energy and dedication were clear to see, and the skills and insights shared during the workshops will no doubt help us continue to provide the best support possible to families. Thanks to new funding, we’re excited to be expanding further, with a new group opening in Sudbury and another cooking group launching in Felixstowe.
Our successes don’t stop there—Home-Start Suffolk was proud to be runners-up for Charity of the Year at the East Suffolk Awards, and our volunteers were recognised in the Unsung Heroes category at the Integrated Care Awards. Adding to this year’s achievements, our superstar administration volunteer, Anita, has been shortlisted in the Digital Volunteer category for the Home-Start Volunteer Awards. She’ll be attending a special ceremony in London on 27th March 2025. These recognitions highlight the incredible impact you have on the families we support and the wider community.
But as we celebrate these achievements, we also know that the demand for our services continues to grow. Every day, we hear stories of families facing overwhelming challenges. One family recently shared:
“Thank you for being there for me and my girls for the past year. Your support helped me cope in ways I didn’t even realise I needed. We were truly blessed to have you as our volunteer.”
This is just one of many stories that remind us why your work is so vital. The dedication and care you show to families make a lasting difference. Thank you for everything you do. Together, we are changing lives across Suffolk.
Best
wishes,
Tara Spence CEO Home-Start in Suffolk
TRUSTEES UPDATE
A Message from Rob Thacker, Chair of Trustees
Dear Team,
As we approach the end of 2024, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for all your hard work and dedication throughout the year. Your commitment to supporting families in our community has been truly inspiring, and together, we have made a significant difference in many people’s lives.
It struck me at our amazing volunteer’s conference that our volunteer community is a force to be reckoned with.
Thank you for your unwavering support, compassion, and teamwork. Each of you has played a vital role in our success, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season. May 2025 bring you happiness, good health, and continued success.
Warmest regards, Rob Thacker Home-Start in Suffolk, Chair
MEET THE TRUSTEES
Our amazing team of Trustees voluntarily work behind the scenes, sharing their skills, expertise and experience to ensure Home-Start in Suffolk can run as an organisation in the best way possible.
Please meet our full team of Trustees, including 6 new Trustees who have joined us during 2024:
PHELAN TREASURER
HELEN CLARKSONFIELDSEND C. SECRETARY
LINDA
ANNA RICKARDS TRUSTEE
DEVONA ANDI TRUSTEE
RUTH FLAHERTY TRUSTEE
JULIA PORTER TRUSTEE ANNE RICHARDSON TRUSTEE
JULIE RATCLIFFE TRUSTEE
ALEX GOSS TRUSTEE
RICKIE ZAYEE TRUSTEE
FAMILY SUPPORT TEAM UPDATE
This year, thanks to your hard work and dedication, we’ve been able to support families across Suffolk when they’ve needed us most.
We’re thrilled to have opened new groups in Sudbury and at the Beeches Primary School in Ipswich, offering support to families in those areas. Our Mums in Mind sessions have continued to grow, and our cooking groups have been wonderful at helping families build confidence in their cooking skills and make connections.
We’ve been pleased to see more of our team now trained to deliver infant massage as part of the Mums in Mind programme, providing practical ways for parents to bond with their babies. Several staff and volunteers have also undertaken HENRY training, and a few of our coordinators have even qualified to lead these sessions themselves. This, alongside infant feeding training, has strengthened the support we can offer families during the early years.
While some of the needs we’ve supported this year are complex, such as those related to domestic abuse and asylum-seeking, our focus remains on tackling the early intervention needs of families. Issues like loneliness, isolation, and poor mental health remain the most significant challenges for many of the families we work with. By stepping in early, we can make a lasting difference.
The feedback we’ve received from families this year says it all: 100% of families said they would recommend Home-Start in Suffolk, and many have shared how much your support has meant to them:
“The support I received helped me to feel less alone and more confident as a parent.” “Home-Start has been a lifeline when I needed it most.”
Thank you for being the driving force behind everything we’ve achieved this year. Your commitment makes such a difference, and together we’ll continue to make sure families in Suffolk feel supported and connected.
With thanks, Alison Grant Family Support Manager
WEATHER WARNING
Please remember to take care if we have any adverse weather conditions not to take any unnecessary risks when visiting your Home-Start family.
Please check local weather conditions and contact the family you are due to visit to check the conditions of roads in their area. If you are unable to visit a family due to the bad weather, please support them through the use of telephone call (remember to dial 141 first).
If you are unable to visit your family for 2 weeks or more, please let your co-ordinator know by phone or email. If the office is closed due to bad weather updates will be available via the website, Facebook and Instagram.
ADVICE ABOUT BOUNDARIES
We know it’s been a while since some of you went through volunteer training – and let’s be honest, not every bit of it is easy to remember (we’re pretty sure “boundaries” might not have been the most thrilling part!). But these boundaries are our trusty safety net. They’re in place to look after you, the families, and Home-Start itself.
When it comes to boundaries, think of it as keeping things simple: no sharing of surnames, personal details like where you live, or phone numbers, and only giving out the essentials. And if you ever accidentally skip the 141 or forget to turn off your caller ID (or can’t quite remember how to do it) before calling a family, don’t worry – just let us know, and we’ll help sort it out.
There’s no need to feel guilty for keeping things professional! Families don’t expect you to share personal information – it’s actually explained right from the start that this is how Home-Start works, and our families are ok with this. Our service isn’t a 24/7 or emergency one, so if a family needs support beyond our scope, pointing them towards other services can often get them the specialised help they need even faster. Health visitors, social workers, and teachers do the same; they also keep professional boundaries, which keeps everyone’s role clear. As one volunteer nicely put it: “I only know my Home-Start family because I’m a volunteer, so our relationship has its own positive space – and it’ll come to a natural end when the time comes.”
If any of this sounds confusing or you have questions, just reach out to your coordinator or to me. We’re here to make sure volunteering stays manageable and enjoyable without taking over your time or adding extra stress.
Finally, one small ask: even if a visit or call doesn’t happen due to a cancellation or illness (on either end), please jot it down in your diary sheet. It helps us keep accurate records, which can be useful if we’re ever asked to share updates on a family’s support journey.
Thank you for all you do – your dedication is what makes Home-Start such a special place.
MUMS IN MIND
2024 has seen us deliver 8 Mums in Mind courses and a further 3 are currently underway. The team have been all over the county - Ipswich, Stowmarket, Debenham, Brandon, Mildenhall, Needham Market, Eye, Haverhill and Wattisham.
Mums in Mind is a course for mums and their babies (under 1). It is aimed at those mums who are feeling isolated, worrying they are not doing the right thing, struggling with anxiety, low mood and in some cases more complex mental health needs.
During each session we practice relaxation techniques for mums, have time interacting with the babies, through infant massage, songs and movements. Also, lots of discussions around different baby topics such as sleep, infant feeding, introducing solids to name a few and spending time focussing on aspects that support mum’s wellbeing.
Those who have attended the groups have stated how valuable it is to meet with other mums who have babies roughly the same stage. Feeling reassured when someone else shares something they are experiencing too. Introducing infant massage into their interactions with their babies has helped with bonding. Mums have shared how discussions have alleviated some of the anxieties they are feeling and ultimately, building their confidence and resilience.
We love having volunteer support us at these groups, so if you are interested in helping at future courses, do get in contact with us!
Vikki Gant Family Support Coordinator
“I always felt welcomed, they remembered what was going on in our lives and our input was valued –this really made a difference to my mood and gave me a support system”
FUNDRAISING TEAM UPDATE
There have been some exciting changes within the Fundraising Team this year. We have welcomed two new members of staff, Eleanor Mealing joined us in September and Lucy Pembroke shortly after in October.
As a charity we rely on fundraising efforts to ensure we can remain sustainable and continue to offer a wide range of support services to the growing number of families that rely on our help. Fundraising helps to generate valuable ‘unrestricted’ funding which quite simply means we can be flexible with how this money is used to directly support the local families that Home-Start in Suffolk supports every year.
We do however like to put the ‘FUN’ in fundraising and we’ve had another succesful year raising over £50,000 through a range of events including Jail & Bail, our prestigious annual Moonlight Ball and back for it’s second successful year, the Suffolk Sports Day.
As we look ahead, we remain hopeful that with your continued support, we can build on this success and achieve even greater things in 2025.
Stacey Phillips Partnerships & Fundraising Manager
JAIL AND BAIL
Suffolk Police had a day to remember as they apprehended the town’s most wanted – but with a twist! The ten individuals were “charged” with fictional crimes and sent behind bars as part of a unique fundraising campaign.
These “criminals” found themselves locked up until they could raise enough bail money to secure their release. The public was invited to support their efforts, helping them raise funds for Suffolk Families in need. In total over £10,000 was raised!
The group was paraded into court, where Judge Wayne Bavin, from BBC Radio Suffolk, determined their fate based on how much they’ve managed to raise. It’s all part of a fun and impactful way to give back to the community – proving that even “criminals” can do good!
THE MOONLIGHT BALL
Friday 17th May saw the return of our most extravagant event of the year – the 7th Annual Home-Start in Suffolk Moonlight Ball! It was truly an unforgettable evening, with over 170 guests gathering at Milsoms Kesgrave Hall for a night filled with fine dining, entertainment, and inspiring fundraising.
The evening was full of excitement, with highlights including a surprise Flash Mob performance by Stellar Acapella, a lively auction expertly conducted by Bishop and Miller Auctions, and live music from The Talent.
Our online auction featured an incredible array of items, including original artwork by Suffolk-based artists Theronda Hoffmann and Allan Williams, luxury overnight stays at Hintlesham Hall and Kesgrave Hall, a £2,000 voucher for Sofa & Stuff Bury St Edmunds, handmade quilts, professional headshot and branding photoshoots, a golf lesson with Dr. Golf, and a corporate film package from Suffolk Content Creatives. We also had a stunning one-ofa-kind Moonstone and Aquamarine necklace by Susannah Chenevix Trench and a special Alex Rider collectors’ package, generously donated by Anthony Horowitz.
This years Moonlight Ball raised almost £25,000! A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed,
CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS TO NEXT YEAR’S MOONLIGHT BALL TAKING PLACE ON FRIDAY 9TH MAY 2025
SUFFOLK SPORTS DAY
After the incredible success of our inaugural event in 2023, we were thrilled to return for the second year of the Suffolk Sports Day! This year, we saw 18 enthusiastic local businesses come together to compete in a fun-filled day of sporting challenges, all in support of a great cause. Through their competitive spirit and generosity, we raised a remarkable £11,122 for Home-Start in Suffolk.
The event featured a wide range of exciting activities designed to test both skill and teamwork. Participants took part in a variety of challenges, including thrilling races, precision archery, exhilarating rock climbing, skilled netball shooting, and even axe throwing! These activities not only provided a great deal of fun but also allowed teams to bond and connect in a unique and enjoyable setting.
In addition to the sporting events, we hosted a charity auction that saw generous bids from our attendees. The highlight of the auction was a signed shirt from the Ipswich Town Football Club players, which was won by the highest bidder. This special piece of memorabilia raised significant funds for Home-Start in Suffolk, adding to the excitement to the day. We also held a successful raffle, with a wide array of fantastic prizes donated by local businesses, making the event even more rewarding for everyone involved.
Looking ahead, we are already excited to continue this tradition and are eager to bring the Suffolk Sports Day back in 2025. Make sure to keep up on our social media accounts to find out more!
DUCK RACE
This year, we were thrilled to launch our very first virtual duck race! Participants had the chance to purchase as many ducks as they wanted, each for £10, and from August 23rd to 26th, these little racers competed for the title of champion!
IPSWICH HALF MARATHON
On Sunday 22nd September, 10 runners took part in the Ipswich Half Marathon to represent Home-Start in Suffolk, raising a fantastic £5,324.82 to support our work.
This year, we decided to take on a new challenge by forming a team of “non-runners” – people who don’t typically run! We are beyond proud of everyone who stepped up and pushed themselves outside their comfort zones. Their determination truly embodies the spirit of Home-Start.
As a charity partner for the event, we were also fortunate to have a wonderful team of volunteers on hand. From helping out in the event village to marshalling along the course, they played an essential role in ensuring the day ran smoothly.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part, volunteered, or supported us in any way. Be sure to keep an eye on the Home-Start in Suffolk website and our social media channels for more updates and information about the 2025 marathon.
Thanks to the incredible support from our community, we raised over £300 which will go directly toward supporting families in Suffolk. We’d like to extend a special thank you to Clare Lucas from Ducks in a Row - Outsourcing Specialists for sponsoring this exciting campaign!
We’re already looking forward to bringing the virtual duck race back in 2025! Be sure to keep an eye on the Home-Start in Suffolk website and our social media channels for any updates.
2025 EVENTS CALENDAR
We are busy preparing our 2025 events calendar, featuring a year of impactful fundraising opportunities. From inspiring gatherings to collaborative initiatives, our events are designed to raise money to help us in our mission to support Suffolk families and create lasting change. Join us in making a difference as we work together to raise funds, build community, and achieve our shared goals in 2025! Here are some of our events for the next year:
• Baby and Children’s
Secondhand Sale
• The Home-Start Hike
• Jail and Bail
• The Moonlight Ball
• Golf Day
• Virtual Duck Race
• Suffolk Sports Day
• Ipswich Half Marathon
• Silent Disco
• Christmas Jumper Day
• Christmas Fayre
We don’t have confirmed dates for everything yet, but please keep an eye on our social media channels for more updates. If you would also like to help with any of our fundraising events next year please email: fundraising@homestartinsuffolk.org.
VOLUNTEERING UPDATE
IMPORTANT DATES
All groups will end the week ending 13th December. Please do check with your group to confirm the start date again in January 2025.
Home-visiting will finish the week ending 20th December (unless you have made a prior arangement with your Family Support Coordinator).
Head Office will be closed from 3pm Tuesday 24th December and will open again at 9am on Thursday 2nd January 2025.
EXPENSES
Please can we remind you that only expense for travel can be claimed. Any other expenses must be agreed with the Coordinator you are working with and only the amount agreed can be claimed, this helps us manage our budgets.
CAN
YOU HELP?
NEW VOLUNTEERS!
We are excited to introduce the newest members of our volunteer community! Please join us in welcoming:
Abigail
Becky
Charlene
Chris
Claire M
Claire S
Clare
Dawn
Deena
Gary
Gemma
Isabella
Janet
Jennifer
Julia H
Julia P
Julie
Kerry-Anne
Laura
Lesley
Marion
Mary
Melody
Navjoht
Nelida
Philippa
Samantha
Shelley
Simon
Téa
Tim Xinnyusa
We’re thrilled to have you all on board and look forward to the incredible impact you’ll make in our community!
Volunteer Training
Our next sessions for home visiting training are as follows:
Wednesday 5th February: West Area Friday 4th April: Martlesham
We aim to match families with volunteers based on a variety of factors, not just location and availability. This means we are always eager to welcome new volunteers from diverse backgrounds to join our team.
While this is a challenging task, there are a few ways you can help:
• Spread the word by telling friends, family, or acquaintances about us and encouraging them to volunteer.
• Display posters or postcards in your local community to help raise awareness.
If you know anyone who may be interested in volunteering, please have them reach out to us.
MILITARY GROUPS NEED YOU!
In May we secured funding from the Army Covenant Fund Trust for a new 3 year project supporting military families and veterans in Suffolk and I took on the role as designated military families coordinator.
We’ve made good progress building relationships with the 3 bases and are starting to see referrals come through for volunteer support. Military life for families comes with many unique challenges; parents feel isolated and unsupported, overwhelmed, family routines change and there are difficulties with relationships and managing children’s behaviour. At the same time military families often have a ‘get on with it’ approach and are reluctant to ask for help for fear of what other military partners and wives will think and the possible impact on the serving parent’s career.
We want to break down these barriers to enable parents to get to know and trust Home-Start and
are developing new groups linked to local needs. We have planned taster sessions for 2 new groups at Honington and Woodbridge in November and hope to start regular fortnightly or monthly groups in January 2025. Other groups and workshops including baby sensory, cooking, infant massage and a parent social/support group may follow.
The groups are an amazing opportunity for Home-Start in Suffolk to reach out to military families and I’d love to hear from volunteers who would like to get involved. If you haven’t thought about groups before, as a telephone or home visit trained volunteer you will be part of a small supported team and there are lots of different roles available within the groups.
Please contact Natalie on 07761 916817 or email Natalie@homestartinsuffolk.org. Alternatively, you can call the office if you are interested in finding out more.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE
Thank you so much for joining us at Home-Start in Suffolk’s inaugural Community Champions Conference! It was truly a memorable day filled with learning, inspiration, and connection, and we’re so glad you could be part of it.
We hope to make this a regular event, and your feedback is incredibly valuable in shaping future events.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the trainers and speakers who generously shared their time and expertise:
• Steve Allman
• Jonny Driver
• Margaret Vane – Citizens Advice Bureau
• Phillipa Gordon-Gould
• Kay Witchalls – Suffolk County Council
• Erin Hamilton – Suffolk Libraries
• Helen Jackson & Claire Wiltshire –NSFT Perinatal Mental Health Team
• Deena Levene
• Carolyn Leader – University of Suffolk
• Laura Evans, Stacy Bird & Wendy Porch –Home-Start Suffolk
• Special thanks also to the University of Suffolk for hosting the event, to the Suffolk Community Foundation for helping to fund the day and a huge shoutout to the HomeStart team for all their hard work on the day.
Lastly, a huge thank you to you—for being an amazing volunteer and for the difference you make every day. Your time, care, and dedication are what make our communities stronger, and we are so grateful to have you as part of the team.
We hope to see you again soon!
Warm regards,
Lisa & Tara
