For more than three decades, Home-Start Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow (RKH) has been a lifeline for families across the borough of Richmond upon Thames. With a mission centred on early intervention, emotional support and practical help for parents of young children, the charity continues to play an essential role in building a strong, connected and resilient local community. 

Founded in 1995 as part of the national Home-Start network, Home-Start RKH was established in response to a growing need for compassionate, family-centred support  for parents with young children across the local community. Since then, it has supported more than 3,500 families and positively shaped the lives of over 6,400 children across Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow, an impact that continues to grow as demand for help increases. 

Meeting the Needs of Richmond’s Young Families

In Richmond upon Thames, Home-Start RKH supports families with children under five who are experiencing challenging times. These challenges range from parental isolation and mental health difficulties to financial pressures, disability, domestic abuse and limited social networks. By providing early, tailored support, the charity helps parents feel more confident and children more secure, strengthening the foundation for long-term wellbeing. 

Central to this mission is their team of carefully trained volunteers, many of whom bring personal experience of parenting or caregiving. They offer compassionate, non-judgemental support through weekly home visits, walk and talk sessions and local family groups, ensuring that help is delivered in ways that genuinely meet each family’s needs. 

In addition, Home-Start RKH runs family groups that help parents build peer support networks, reducing isolation and offering children opportunities for social interaction and play. Their summer activities programme also plays a vital role, giving families the chance to experience outings and events they might otherwise miss, moments that create joy, confidence and meaningful memories. 

The charity’s impact is best illustrated in the stories shared by those they support. One Richmond parent describes Home-Start as “an actual lifesaver,” explaining how the presence of a volunteer offered stability during a period of severe family stress and mental health struggles. For this family, the volunteer became “an extension of our family,” providing care and reassurance when it was needed most. 

Another parent who received help from Home-Start RKH explains how her family benefited from the charity:

“I was looking for support when I had my second child and unfortunately became disabled following his birth. I broke my spine and my hip and was unable to care for him without a lot of assistance and intervention. We needed help desperately and nothing seemed to be in place but luckily, we found Home-Start. They provided me with the support I needed to enable me to bond with my new baby as well as caring for my older child. 

“It was a really difficult time for us as a family with a lot of emotion involved. My volunteer was an absolute angel and just could not have been more perfect for our family. She gave so much emotional support to me as well as a listening ear, that voice of reason and that mental support to help me work through some of the challenges I was facing. 

“For me, Home-Start really made a difference to my relationship with my children and how I was feeling about myself as a parent. Our volunteer completely enabled me to be the parent I wanted to be and facilitate that level of independence. It gave me the time and the motivation to be present and support my baby despite the challenges I was facing with my physical health.”

A Community Effort: How Richmond Residents and Businesses Can Help

Volunteers are the backbone of Home-Start’s model, and the charity continues to seek individuals who can spare two to three hours per week to support a local family. No formal qualifications are required, just empathy, reliability and a willingness to listen. Volunteers complete a comprehensive six-week training programme to ensure they feel confident and prepared. 

Local residents and businesses can also support through donations, fundraising, sponsorships and long-term partnerships. Home-Start RKH regularly participates in match funding campaigns, including their next Champions for Children appeal running 2 to 16 June, where every donation is doubled. 

The charity is also proudly supporting two Be Richmond business members taking part in the 2026 TCS London Marathon to raise vital funds – Julien Delande, General Manager at Third Space Richmond and David Upton, Finance Director, William Grant & Sons - both of whom have deeply personal reasons for choosing Home-Start RKH as their chosen charity. Both Julien and David’s efforts will be doubly impactful, with their  employers match funding the final amounts raised. 

If you’d like to start a conversation about how you can support Home-Start’s work, please contact Sarah Villegas, Head of Marketing and Fundraising at sarah@homestart-rkh.org.uk.

Looking Ahead in Richmond

In the coming year, Home-Start RKH aims to expand its volunteer team, boost outreach and provide more hours of family support to meet rising local demand. Strengthening community partnerships across Richmond upon Thames is also a priority, helping ensure families know where to turn before difficulties escalate. Ultimately, the charity hopes to nurture a borough where parents feel supported, children flourish and no family faces challenges alone.

If Richmond is to continue thriving as a community, organisations like Home-Start RKH, quietly yet powerfully supporting families every day, will remain vital to its heart.

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