9 in 10 families say Home-Start support boosted their mental health

This Maternal Mental Health Week, Home-Start London is shining a spotlight on the effect of financial stress for our families and the transformative impact of compassionate, community-based support.

New research, conducted with 300 families supported by Home-Start in London, reveals the emotional toll of early parenthood in the face of rising living costs, housing insecurity, and stretched public services. Yet it also shows something powerful. Nine in ten parents say Home-Start support they’ve received has improved their mental health.

London parents feel overwhelmed

London has much to offer young families, from parks and museums to vibrant communities. However, it is also a city of inequalities. London has some of the deepest and most persistent levels of child poverty nationally. 700,000, 0ver a third (35%) of children in the capital live in poverty (Department for Work and Pensions, March 2025). Very high housing and childcare costs are putting families under pressure. Research has found that 1 in 12 Londoners are severely lonely, and that Londoners are more likely than people living in the rest of Britain to experience this phenomenon (Reconceptualising Loneliness in London, 2022).

We found most parents in London are feeling overwhelmed and isolated as they manage the day to day demands of early parenthood. The cost of living and childcare, shortages of affordable housing and patchy provision of services is undermining their wellbeing. Our latest study, which gathered input from 302 families, found this is taking an emotional toll. Six in ten (60%) of parents and carers feel overwhelmed. Half of them (51%) feel anxious. Close to half of families (46%) feel lonely and isolated. Families are feeling like this all or a lot of the time.

“I feel anxious all the time, like I am riding a rollercoaster, where my children are the positive, but there are just so many challenges.” Parent interview.

When asked about their priorities for the year ahead, parents voiced clear and urgent concerns: their emotional and mental health; their children’s health and development; housing stability; and making ends meet.

Money worries are making parenting harder

Parents told us they’re forced to make difficult decisions just to get by in London, often prioritising rent and bills over everyday essentials like food and clothing. Nearly nine in ten families (86%), say money worries are making parenting harder. 81% feel stressed or anxious due to financial pressures. Six in ten (61%) say money worries increase their sense of isolation.

“Rent is always our priority, then bills. But in London, the price of everything is going up. It has been a challenge and we’ve gone to our local food bank for help.” Parent interview.

These burdens are even heavier for some families

Higher proportions of single parent families, parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities, and parents with a disability or health condition themselves are struggling to pay for food and essentials.

“Purse strings are really tight… I’ve got a PIP review coming up this month, and if that comes back and says, I can’t get it any more then I will start to struggle.” Parent interview.

What parents told us they need

When asked what would help most in the next 12 months, 47% of families said emotional support. This rises to nearly three quarters (74%) of parents/carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Families receiving just a few hours a week of compassionate support, in their homes and at local group sessions, from Home-Start’s trained volunteers and skilled staff, report significant improvements. Nine in ten (91%) say their mental health improved. 84% feel better able to understand and support their child’s development. Across London, last year 750 volunteers supported over 6,200 families and their children to thrive in their early years.

Sophie’s story: “Having someone to talk to made a big difference”

Sophie, a mum of three girls under 10, knows just how important that kind of support can be. She was first supported by Home-Start after experiencing domestic abuse, and nearly a decade later, returned for help after moving to a new area and feeling isolated.

“This time around, it’s been really nice,” she said. “I was new to the area and didn’t really know where to go for support. As a mum of three, I don’t get out much and having someone to talk to really made such a big difference for me.”

Home-Start paired Sophie with a volunteer who helped her attend hospital appointments and encouraged her to join local group sessions. Over time, Sophie felt less overwhelmed, and less alone.

Our recommendations for action

The findings from our research are clear: families need more support, and they need it earlier. Emotional and practical help in the early years lays the foundation for lifelong wellbeing – not just for parents, but for children too.

Jessica Greenhalf, Director of Home Start London, said: “Our families say we’re the ‘village’ they need to raise their children in a city that often feels isolating. We step in during the hardest moments – mental health difficulties, mounting bills, housing struggles – so parents can focus on what matters most: their children. Every parent deserves to be able to access support when they need it.”

We have made five recommendations for policymakers, grounded in what families have told us, and in the lived experiences of those we support every day:

1. Invest in early years and family support

Every family should be able to access support when and where they need it, before crisis hits. This requires investment in perinatal mental health services, integrated services like family hubs and home-based support to strengthen parent-infant relationships.

2. Address child poverty

Constant financial pressures are impacting family life. Tackling child poverty can help address this, including removing the two-child limit and benefit cap, expanding universal credit, and ensuring payments meet essential living costs.

3. Ensure every child has a safe, secure home

Access to a safe, secure home is essential, without this families cannot thrive. More must be done to tackle our city’s housing crisis and support families living in unsuitable homes.

4. Value and invest in the voluntary sector

Home-Start is a lifeline for families facing their toughest times, including those most isolated. Without investment and support, the vital services we provide and those of the wider voluntary sector will be at risk.

5. Prioritise listening to the voices of parents and children

Too often, decisions about children and families are made without them. Listening directly to those with lived experience will help shape services that are truly responsive and effective.

Support isn’t a luxury – it’s an investment in child development

The early years are a pivotal time in a child’s life. They set the stage for emotional development, resilience, and long-term wellbeing.

Commenting on the report, Dr Hind Khalifeh, psychiatrist and perinatal mental health expert, said: “ Too many women facing mental health challenges in the early stages of parenthood are still slipping through the cracks. Home-Start wraps around them with care, not judgement — offering hope when it’s needed most. This kind of support can shape the futures for London’s children.”

In our research, parents describe how much their children love interacting with volunteers and staff. Parents delight in seeing their children play and have fun at the groups. They see their children’s confidence, language and social skills grow. Our services also give families the chance to build memories together. Free activities, seasonal parties and discounts on days out ease financial pressure and give families enriching experiences they might otherwise miss out on.

Fatima and her 4 year old son attend group sessions at Home-Start each week.She saw her son grow in confidence and felt proud of the activities they did and the time they spent together, saying: “With Home-Start, you’re there with your child, playing. You know what’s going on in their life. I feel like I’m really part of it, helping him develop.”

As our research shows, compassionate, timely support changes lives. It reduces stress, supports confident parenting, and empowers parents to create the kind of stable, loving environment their children need.

We would welcome your reflections on the study, and help sharing its findings, as we work to create a London where no parent feels alone, and every child gets the best start in life.

You can read the full report here.