It’s a Wrap! 2024: A Year of Building Community & Collaboration in support of London Families
As 2024 draws to a close, we want to take a moment celebrate a year of collaboration, community and collective impact. Together with our network of local Home-Starts, serving 26 boroughs, we’ve worked to support over 6,000 families across the capital. Here are five highlights that defined our year:
1. Inspiring new Home-Start volunteers!
This year we launched our first pan-London volunteer recruitment campaign, #My2Hours. Developed with Home-Start teams across London and pro bono support from media agency Ogilvy, the online campaign over doubled engagement rates across our digital platforms and boosted local volunteer enquiries.
Building on last year’s partnership with ZSL London Zoo, we were delighted launch a new partnership with Elite Landscapes Ltd. Over the year, the team transformed an overgrown outdoor space at Home-Start Greenwich’s Plumstead Nursery into a magical forest school. This enchanting area now offers children the opportunity to connect with nature while supporting their physical, social, and emotional growth.
3. Amplifying family voices
We were proud to attend The Childhood Trust‘s Child Poverty Summit alongside colleagues from across London. At the event we shared our new film, Unheard Voices, profiling the stories of two families striving to give their children the best possible start in life. We also met with Deputy Mayor Debbie Weekes-Bernard and members of 4in10 – London’s Child Poverty Network, amplifying the lived experiences of families and driving awareness and action for change.
We brought Home-Start corporate partners and supporters from across London together in Regent’s Park to take part in Run Through’s 5k/10k, raising vital funds for Home-Start services. This collective effort showcased the strength of the Home-Start community and vital role we can all play in creating brighter futures for children and families facing tough times.
5. Partnering to extend Home-Start services
We were proud to launch a new project supported by The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington, as part of the Mercers’ Company’s Early Years initiative, to provide tailored school readiness support to families in four London boroughs. Over the next four years, we will support over 400 children aged 2-5 to build the skills and confidence they need to thrive at school and beyond.
Thanks and looking ahead
As we reflect on the year, we want to share a big thank you to all the Home-Start staff and volunteers across London as well as our network of supporters and partners who make our collective work possible. Together, we are ensuring that more families can access the support they need when they need it most. Here’s to continuing this vital work in 2025.