We are a community-based charity with 30 years’ experience of supporting local families with children under the age of 5. We offer our combination of home-visiting, counselling and group support to families across Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere districts. By offering parents the support and guidance they need when their children are young, we can prevent crisis and ensure children have the best possible start in life. We tailor support to the needs of each family, supporting them to identify and tackle their most pressing needs. Our practical support ensures children have a safer, more stable home environment; our ethos of building family resilience ensures parents are better equipped to cope with adverse circumstances; and our focus on promoting a more secure parent-child attachment ensures parents can identify the kind of support their children need to thrive.
I lead operations at Home-Start as Co-CEO, working closely with our Director of Services to ensure the charity runs smoothly and effectively.
I’m proud to be part of a small but dedicated team—and a network of incredible volunteers, where everyone brings unique strengths, but all share the Home-Start heart.
Since joining in 2020, I’ve seen how even small actions can have a big impact. As a mother, I know parenting can be both joyful and challenging. For families without strong support networks, Home-Start and our volunteers’ step in to offer guidance, stability, and a sense of community.
I’m passionate about empowering families, supporting our team, and ensuring Home-Start remains a trusted, consistent presence in the communities we serve.
I lead the services at Home-Start as Co-CEO, working alongside our Director of Operations, to ensure families receive consistent, high-quality support.
I feel privileged to be part of a small but dedicated team and to work with an incredible network of volunteers, where everyone brings unique strengths, and all share the Home-Start heart and our ethos.
My journey with Home-Start began as a volunteer, and since officially joining the team in 2020, I’ve loved supporting families through my work , whether in groups, home-visiting, or one-to-one support. I’m passionate about empowering parents to make positive, lasting changes; seeing families grow, change the trajectory they were on, and fly independently is the most rewarding part. The bonds formed between families and volunteers are truly magical and powerful, and I feel privileged to witness them every day.
As a mother and step-grandmother, I’m constantly reminded of how precious childhood is, which strengthens my commitment to supporting families in our community, because childhood can’t wait.
I joined Home-Start in June 2022, starting in Data Administration and growing into my current role as Communications and Business Support Officer.
Along the way, I’ve developed skills in digital marketing, fundraising, team administration, and communications.
Working at Home-Start is incredibly rewarding—knowing our work supports families through challenging times inspires me every day. As a mum of two young children, I understand the joys and challenges of parenthood, bringing empathy and genuine connection to my role.
As a mum of three, I know firsthand that family life is full of both challenges and rewards, and that experience has shaped my passion for supporting others.
Before joining Home-Start, I worked in customer service and logistics, which gave me valuable organisational and communication skills. I love bringing people together through events, in turn building connections within our community, and raising the vital funds that help us reach even more families.
For me, this role is all about making a positive difference and building lasting support for families when they need it most.
Prior to joining the Home-Start team in September 2022, I have been busy supporting families in various roles: I have been a Carer, a volunteer, a student, a Children Centre worker and, most recently, a Family Support Worker in Hertfordshire.
I have always enjoyed working closely with children and young families providing them with the support they need to thrive. I believe in the work we do and always try to maintain a positive attitude, especially in the face of difficult or challenging circumstances. I am friendly, approachable, and always happy to help. When I am not focused on work, I enjoy cooking and spending time with my family. I have 3 children two of them in University already experiencing the adulting stage and the last one looking forward to hitting the age limit of working to earn his own stipends!
Having grown up in Watford, I am passionate about supporting our local community.
Prior to joining Home-Start in September 2022, I worked for 9 years at another local charity, Watford & Three Rivers Trust, where I worked on a project helping to reduce loneliness and isolation in older people. I am so happy to have the opportunity as a Volunteer Coordinator to help families and support our wonderful volunteers.
Prior to joining the Home-Start team, I have worked in a nursery, primary school and within the Family Centre Service.
My previous roles have inspired my passion for working with families, offering support, guidance and the skills needed to empower themselves.
Being a mum to two children, I am aware of the everyday challenges parenting can bring, and how we all need some extra support at times.
I am so pleased to be joining the Home-Start team and now have opportunity to be able to work closely with families and with our amazing group of volunteers, giving them the chance to reach their full potential and thrive as parents and caregivers.
I joined the Home-Start team in February 2023, firstly as Family Group assistant and then moving on to become Family Group Manager in September 2023.
I have worked with children and their lovely families for over twenty years in a variety of settings such as nurseries and pre-schools. I feel very privileged to be part of an organisation that really does everything they can to help families to thrive.
My background is in Early Years education, and I love to see how much the children and their families enjoy our Family Groups. I have four children of my own who keep me very busy and allow me to understand the rewards and challenges that come along with parenting today. My goal is for Family Group to provide an environment in which all of our families and wonderful volunteers can feel safe, empowered and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Before joining Home-Start, I have been in the childcare sector for over 20 years working in nurseries and schools.
My involvement with children brings me so much joy, watching them grow and reach their milestones. I have 3 boys, each one of them brings me joy and challenges that keep me on my toes. My passion is to help people reach their goals even if it’s something small. My son and I enjoyed the Family Groups on Tuesdays ourselves, which made me passionate about joining the Home-Start team to give back to families like they did for us.
When I’m not busy being a mum I enjoy art, painting, crocheting. My hobby is to find as many hobbies as I can!
I am Home-Start’s Mascot and happy to visit your school, office or business. Come and say hello when you see me!
I have lived in Watford and Three Rivers for thirty years with my wife Pauline and our two children were born and educated locally. I joined the Board of Trustees in 2014 and was elected to the Chair in 2015. I have 35 years business experience having worked in the financial services sector which I left in 2013 to set up a consultancy business. I am currently working in the Social Housing sector helping with business and people strategy; I am also on the Governing body of a Further Education college.
For several years I have worked with many voluntary organisations in roles such as volunteer, church council member, trustee, treasurer and chair of trustees. These include – Herts Young Homeless Group, Digswell Village Church, Watford/One YMCA, Early Childhood Partnership, Tax Help for Older People and the DeHavilland Community Project. I graduated from St Catherine’s College, Cambridge with an MA in Economics and went on to have a career in Accounting and Finance, culminating in the role of Finance Director for Lonmin Plc. (formerly Lonrho Plc.).
I enjoy walking, badminton, tennis, cricket, theatre, philately, wine, travel, and my my grandchildren – sometimes combining the last two by taking my family on holiday!
Laura will be working closely with our designated safeguarding lead, Michaela Foster Osborne in an advisory capacity, contributing to board discussions about Home-Start’s capacity in working with more complex families.
I have lived in Watford for the past 7 years and I am a mum to two little girls, who keep me very busy! My background is in Education and I have been a primary school teacher for over 13 years. I have worked in the Early Years Foundation stage for many years and currently teach part time in a Primary school in Watford. I am looking forward to working with Home Start to support the wonderful work that they do with helping children and families.
I’ve spent over 30 years working for large corporate retailers in diverse roles from buying to project management both in the UK and Internationally and more recently as the Change Manager for Mothercare. One of my great passions outside of work is walking and being a member of a social walking group, we have completed quite a few charity challenges including Snowdonia and the 3 Yorkshire peaks.
I have lived in Bushey for over 20 years and the time is perfect for me now to become involved with a local charity that makes a difference to families and am delighted to be a trustee for Home Start, a great charity that Mothercare has supported for several years, and one that aligns with the family values that Mothercare offers to both its partners and customers.
My early career started in the NHS, where I held various operational and leadership roles, including emergency planning and service delivery. The satisfaction I got from seeing my team members develop through improving personal performance led me to train as a Life Coach. Leaving the NHS to become a full-time mum to my two girls, I continued to support others by undertaking several voluntary opportunities in the community. This included working with Barnados, supporting vulnerable children and families for almost 7 years.
I joined Watford Borough Council during the Covid-19 outbreak, where I worked to improve equitable access to the Covid-19 vaccine. This role allowed me to forge trusting relationships with the community and various stakeholders which gave me a valuable insight into the challenges and barriers faced by some of the most underserved communities in Watford.
I subsequently worked as the Health Inequalities Officer until March 2024 at Watford Borough Council where I developed and delivered various initiatives to address health disparities and support those most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. I have collaborated with Home Start on several of these initiatives and why I am excited to bring my full energy, experience and commitment to supporting the Home Start Team and the families they serve.
I find solace in the outdoors, embracing the countryside and sea gazing, where I draw inspiration for my hobby of painting.
I have lived in Watford all my life where I currently work for TJX Europe (TK Maxx and HomeSense) as a buyer. During the pandemic, I became a first-time mum to my beautiful daughter, Ruby, who will be turning 2 in October.
Having personally experienced the mental struggles of becoming a mum during lockdown, where services and support networks were stripped away overnight, it became very apparent how necessary these support services are for families with young children. I am eternally grateful for the support I received during my journey into motherhood, and I hope to be able to help support other families too.
My hobbies include… who am I kidding? I have a toddler… SLEEPING (whenever I get the opportunity).
I have lived locally for over thirty years and joined the Board of Trustees in July 2024. I am a chartered accountant with some 40 years’ business experience, mainly in the media and technology sectors, including as chief financial officer of YouGov plc and Ebiquity plc and as a management consultant with KPMG and EY.
I am also an experienced trustee (Pension Scheme including Chair of the scheme communications, Death in Service and SharePlan schemes).
My family and I (husband and two children) moved to Three Rivers (Rickmansworth) 15 years ago, prior to which we lived in Denham.
Home-Start is a wonderful charity and I am delighted to be joining the Board for Watford and Three Rivers.
I am an experienced and commercially focused HR Executive (Chief People Officer) with over 30 years’ experience in the financial services sector (predominantly banking) and have significant experience in all areas of HR, including as a trained coach, mentor and mediator.
I am also an experienced trustee (Pension Scheme including Chair of the scheme communications, Death in Service and SharePlan schemes).
My family and I (husband and two children) moved to Three Rivers (Rickmansworth) 15 years ago, prior to which we lived in Denham.
Home-Start is a wonderful charity and I am delighted to be joining the Board for Watford and Three Rivers.
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Contact
Company Number 05385393
Charity Number 1108847
Find Us
Home-Start Watford and Three Rivers
The Lord-Lieutentant’s Charity Hub
6 Hercules Way
Leavesden
Watford
WD25 7GS
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