About Home-Start
About Home-Start Perth and Kinross
We provide a unique service; recruiting and training volunteers who themselves have parenting experience, to work with families in their own homes, building supportive relationship and responding directly to the family’s individual needs.
A network of Home-Start schemes throughout the UK offer support within local areas, to help children to get the best start in life. Each scheme is independently funded, managed locally and has the support of our national organisation Home-Start UK.

We also incorporate Breast Buddies, a mum to mum peer support service for breastfeeding mothers. The idea was conceived and developed by a group of NHS breastfeeding support volunteers who are also local mums. The idea was to develop peer support for breastfeeding (a concept that we know works to help mums feel better about breastfeeding and breastfeed for longer) in Perth and Kinross, providing more appropriate training and ongoing support and supervision for volunteers.  We currently have 9 face to face groups, 1-2-1 text support, a closed Facebook group and WhatsApp support groups. To find out more go to https://homestartperthandkinross.org.uk/about-breast-buddies/
Helping families in Perth and Kinross since 1984
Families helped
Children supported
Volunteers
What we do
Home Start Perth and Kinross are a small, friendly team and we offer parent to parent support to anyone that has children under the age of 5 and is struggling with the pressures of modern parenting. We have an amazing team of trained volunteers who home visit for up to 2 hours a week and can help with looking after children, helping families attend appointments and groups or just be there to chat and listen – whatever the family needs.
Areas we cover
Breast Buddies Groups around Perth & Kinross
Our Breast Buddies groups run across Perth & Kinross and Dundee, staffed by our amazing (and very friendly!) Breastfeeding Peer Support...
Breast Feeding and the Covid Vaccine
We know this time can be a bit uncertain and we are here to offer support, we have compiled a leaflet to help explain the guidance about Breast...
About Breast Buddies
Breast Buddies - who are we and how did we get here? The idea for Breast Buddies, a mum to mum peer support service for breastfeeding mothers, was...
 Current Vacancies
Thrive Early Coordinators
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Family Support Volunteer
Our volunteers help families by providing support either in the home or emotionally. We offer full training and each volunteer has a coordinator who is there to help and support them all the way. We pay travel expenses and offer many training opportunities to add to your skills and experience. We encourage people from all walks of life, age, ethnicity and gender to apply as the families needing support are very diverse.
Our next training course starts in early 2026, there will be some online learning and a face to face training course which candidates must attend.
A Home-Start volunteer should:
Be a parent or have parenting experience.
Be prepared to undertake the Home-Start preparation training course.
Understand why families may need support from Home-Start.
Have a knowledge of child development or willingness to undertake training.
Have a positive, non-judgmental attitude to working with people of any gender, family status or sexual identity, or who are from any ethnic origin, culture or religion, or who may have a disability.
Demonstrate a sensitive and caring attitude towards others.
Be clear about confidentiality and when a confidence remains so but be able to decide when disclosure of a confidence is essential to protect the well-being or safety of a child.
Have time and enthusiasm for Home-Start, be reliable and understand the importance of reliability to the family.
Have good communication skills including an ability to listen.
Have a warm and open personality and a sense of humour.
Be able to work as a member of a team.
Be prepared to keep records as required by the scheme.
Be prepared to attend group support meetings and ongoing or refresher training required by the scheme.
Be prepared to attend supervision with the Co-ordinator every eight weeks.
Our trustees
Our Board is responsible for setting the direction of our organisation, strategic decisions, governance, legal compliance and leadership. Working closely with the Manager and senior staff, Trustees are essential in the operation of our charity.
Anyone interested in bringing their skills and experience to our Board is invited to make contact to discuss any opportunities or to express an interest in future vacancies please email info@homestartpk.org.uk
We are delighted to be awarded the Quality Assurance award from Home Start UK for Governanace and Leadership within our Board of Trustees

Jamie Wishart
My name is Jamie, I got involved with Homestart through a work connection. I currently work at John Lewis as the regional manager for our shops in Scotland and North England. I live in Perth and I am passionate about making a difference in our local area, Home Start is a fantastic charity and I was keen to get involved and help the fantastic work that the charity does.
Helen Archibald - Chair
Helen is an experienced executive and non-executive leader with a background in legal, education and not-for-profit sectors. She has spent much of her career helping organisations and people navigate change and find clarity about what to do next. Helen became involved with Home-Start Perth & Kinross because she believes a child’s first years are the most important in shaping their future and that confident, supported parents give children the best possible start in life. As a Trustee, she’s committed to helping the charity continue to thrive and make a lasting difference in local communities.
Alex Hone
I qualified in 2022, and have been working as a children and families social worker in Fife since then. My work is varied and interesting, and working with children is so rewarding.
Services like Home-Start are a really vital resource for children and their families, this was evident during my placement but is also really clear in my current role. I hope that my experience in both roles will help me support Home-Start PKC as a Trustee. I was thrilled when Jill asked me to join and I and really happy to be involved!
Fenella Cowey
I believe a child’s early years are crucial in shaping their future. Access to pratical and emotional support for parents in those early years is vital to enabling parents to provide their child the best possible start in life.
Home Start is a fantastic charity. Time and again I have seen the benefits to families of having support from Home Start volunteers/groups/ resources.
David Brock - Treasurer
I work with a number of charities, and Home Start offers a fantastic service provided by a great team.   As a grandparent I know just how tough it can be to look after young children, regardless of your status or abilities.  The team here work so hard, with such care and enthusiasm, I really couldn’t say no when they asked me to join them.
Our Staff
We are a small and dedicated team at Home Start Perth and Kinross. We are based at 5A Atholl Place, in the centre of Perth. We work well in a team and all pitch in to help each other and we pride ourselves on our friendly approach to families and volunteers. Our door is always open for a chat.
Tanya Kerr - Finance and Business Officer
Hello, I’m Tanya, and I started with Home Start as a Finance & Business Officer in March 2025. I’m excited to be part of this amazing team that helps families in my community. As a mother of three, I’m kept busy outside of work! When I do get some time to myself, you’ll often find me tending to my garden while enjoying my latest Spotify playlist or unwinding with a good book.
Chirsty Morrison - Admin and Communications Officer
Hi, I’m Chirsty and I joined Home Start in March 2019. I lived in London for 10 years working in Admin within the Television and Film Industry and moved back home to Perthshire in 2016 with my daughter Ava. I’m really enjoying my post here at Home Start, I love the variety of work, learning new skills and meeting new people. I also run the social media and website which I’m really enjoying too!
Leanne Anderson - Family Support Coordinator
Hello I’m Leanne and I work for Home Start as a part time Family Co-ordinator. I have been working with Home Start since December 2018. I originally joined Home Start to become a volunteer and completed our volunteer prep course. My interests for joining home start came from being a kinship carer. Alongside home start I am currently studying my fourth year in BA (Hons) Social Sciences. I am also a big animal lover so in my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my dogs and horses.
Katie Marshall - Family Support Coordinator
Hi, I’m Katie and I joined Home Start as a Family Support Coordinator in June 2021. I am really passionate about supporting families and appreciate the challenges faced in the early years.  When I’m not at work I enjoy spending time with my 3 young kids, being outdoors and exploring new places.
Tammy Fleuchar - Family Support Coordinator
Hello, I’m Tammy and I am a Family Support Coordinator with Homestart. I love everything Health and Wellbeing, especially when it comes to families. I also run a Community Interest Company called Vitalityme CIC, where I teach Yoga, Pilates and all things Wellbeing. Out with my wonderful work you will find me climbing the hills with my boys, with my head in a good book or whipping up some cakes in the kitchen.
Jocelyn Smith - Senior Breast Buddies Coordinator
Hello, I’m Jocelyn, one of the Coordinators for Breast Buddies Perth & Kinross. I volunteered as a Breast Buddies Peer Supporter between 2017 and 2019 before managing the NCT’s Glasgow Breastfeeding Buddies project. I’m delighted to be back with team BBPK and helping to support breastfeeding families in Perth & Kinross. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my 3 children, reading and hillwalking.
Lauren Watson - Breast Buddies Group and Peer Support Coordinator
Hello, my name is Lauren and I joined the Home Start family in October 2022. My background is in Early Years Education and Childcare. Over the past 8 years I have worked closely with children and families, providing support and guidance around their child’s growth and development. I enjoy building new friendships and connections, spending time with my husband and 6 year old daughter, playing with my crazy cat and attempting to bake! I also enjoy socialising and getting to the cinema, theatre, and concerts when I can!
Helen Reid - Breast Buddies Dundee Coordinator
Kyle Baikie - Breast Buddies Dundee Group Worker
Hello, my name is Kyle and I am the Breast Buddies Group Worker for Dundee. My background is in Midwifery, and I was lucky enough to train as a Breast Buddies volunteer in 2022. Â I enjoy working with women and their families and I am passionate about supporting women to achieve their breastfeeding goals. I know how important peer support can be for families and feel privileged to be part of such a valuable service. I have three young children and enjoy our family time outside of work. I am never too far away from another house or garden project and absolutely love the summer months to start growing plants in our little polytunnel. My children and myself love arts and craft, and we are often making jewellery, paintings, or crafting from clay.


