All HOME-START countries offer a free-of-charge service providing support and friendship to families with at least one pre-school child through regular home visiting. Trained volunteers, usually parents themselves from the local community, help parents to grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children and widen their links with the community. Whatever the issues families face – isolation, finding it difficult to cope with the demands of parenthood and the stresses of life or facing financial hardship, marital problems, domestic violence, health issues and disabilities – HOME-STARTs volunteers supervised by professional staff (often called coordinators) offer a non-judgmental hand of friendship ensuring children have the best possible start in life.

In the presentation, we will talk about which families we support and how we collaborate with social workers and other professionals. We will also address possibilities as well challenges in the meeting between volunteers and professionals, including methods for cooperation between civil society and public services.