Home-Start Bedfordshire

12/06/2026

Returning to work after maternity leave is a common life event. If you feel daunted, you’re not alone, and you’re not the first. Moving from a structured work environment to the 24/7 world of a newborn, and then back again, is a significant transition.

Here, we explore why it can feel challenging, let you know it’s normal, and offer some suggestions: https://bit.ly/44399OD

10/06/2026

04/06/2026

Reading aloud to young children shapes their future by building early communication skills, wiring their brains for learning, strengthening bonds, and more. Our local libraries are a fantastic resource to use, providing free access to books. They also host storytelling sessions and author visits to make reading fun.

If you feel unsure about how to share stories with your child, you are not alone. Here we explore the challenges and benefits of reading together and offer some helpful tips: https://bit.ly/4x9qOBI

02/06/2026

Volunteers’ Week is here, and we are proud to join so many charities across the UK to celebrate the remarkable difference our volunteers make every day.

The truth is, without volunteers, the unseen safety net so many rely on would break. Volunteers supporting causes like ours step into the gaps, prevent crises, and change lives every single day. Calling them heroic isn't an overstatement. To all our volunteers, we cannot thank you enough. You are the heartbeat of this charity, champions of our community, empowering local families and bringing smiles to children. https://bit.ly/3RIrqOu

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 and Happy Volunteers' Week! 👏💜

31/05/2026

22/05/2026

Following the results of a recent survey, Home-Start is calling for a national drive to improve connection and reduce isolation for parents of young children. Here in Bedfordshire, we have become acutely aware of the societal problem of parental isolation. In our 2018 ‘Alone At Home - Stories From Bedfordshire’ Linda, our CEO wrote “I was particularly struck this year about how loneliness and isolation was a key feature in many of the families referred to us. Whether it was a toddler and her mother with postnatal depression too anxious to go outside; a family with a disabled child and a brother and sister for whom getting to a group to meet others was an impossible dream; a lone mother and her children who had been moved away from friends, school and family to escape an abusive ex partner - all spoke about how lonely they felt.”

As is still the case, we are incredibly grateful to all our wonderful volunteers. We couldn’t say it any better than Linda - “I’m always so encouraged to hear the stories of the difference that a Home-Start volunteer makes to the lives of people who are suffering from the loneliness epidemic in our society. These champions in our community are ordinary people with big hearts who want to make a difference to those battling with the difficulties that life can throw at any of us.”

21/05/2026

Dunstable Community Fire Station have a fun event for local families with children (5+) with SEND this Saturday. It's free entry and designed specifically for SEND families 🚒

🚒 Community Event Share 🚒

Dunstable Fire Station is hosting a SEND Friendly Family Open Day on Saturday 23rd May 2026 from 2pm–4pm for families with children and young people aged 5–15 with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

The afternoon will include:
✨ Fire truck tours
✨ Meet the firefighters
✨ Dress up as a firefighter
✨ Robot arm building block challenge
✨ Refreshments and activities
✨ Fire safety advice
✨ Designated quiet room
✨ Plus lots more!

📍 Dunstable Fire Station
🚗 Parking available

19/05/2026

Home-Start Bedfordshire is part of the Co-op Local Community Fund. Thank you to the 581 Co‑op Members currently supporting our SEND Parent Mentors project 🩵💜 If you are a member of the Co-op, you can find out more about our project and choose to support us here: https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/99849

15/05/2026

Do you have experience parenting an autistic child? Become an online Parent Group Leader and share a highly successful parenting programme that combines science, theory, and parenting strategies. As you develop your skills and confidence, you will be teaching other parents to do the same. Full training is provided, and you’ll be supervised and supported every step of the way. Join us and have a positive impact on the wellbeing of local parents, carers, and their autistic children. Find out more about volunteering as a Parent Group Leader here: https://bit.ly/4wuXxRH

13/05/2026

Most people want to live in strong, healthy, caring communities where everyone feels they belong. At a time when division can feel loud, the reality is millions of us show up for each other, our neighbours and our communities every single day. That’s why we stand with Home-Start UK and many other organisations, including Mencap and The Children’s Society, in supporting A Million Acts of Hope. https://bit.ly/48YLT7t