We are thrilled to announce that we have secured vital match funding for this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge!
Thanks to £2,500 pledged by generous local businesses and community groups alongside £2,500 in Champion funding awarded by the Ethos Foundation, every single pound you donate through our campaign page 30 Years of Holding Families Through Hard Times – Big Give, during campaign week will be doubled!
This is a game-changer for Home-Start Epsom, Ewell & Banstead. To unlock the full £10,000 match-funding pot, we need our local community’s help to raise £5,000.
The Need: Why Your Support Is Urgently Needed
Local families with children aged 0 to 11 are struggling with rising mental health needs, social isolation, and poverty. At the same time, cuts to Early Help, Council, and NHS services leave many without the vital support they need to thrive.
Our referrals continue to rise in both number and complexity:
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73% of families report parental mental health concerns.
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53% experience severe isolation.
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48% struggle with low self-esteem.
Demand is outpacing our capacity. Without early intervention, families face crisis escalation and adverse long-term outcomes.
“When I first met you, it was the day after I’d had thoughts of ending my life. I was at my lowest, and the support you gave me helped me rebuild my confidence and feel like myself again.”
— Parent supported by our Perinatal Service
Our Campaign Aims: What Your Donations Will Fund
When families get help early, confidence grows, routines stabilise, and children feel secure. Here is how your support makes a direct difference:
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👶 Early Perinatal Support: Providing home visiting, wellbeing groups, and 1:1 guidance to reduce anxiety, improve parent–infant bonding, and help new parents feel confident, connected, and supported during pregnancy and baby’s first months.
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🧸 Over-5s & Parenting Support: Delivering targeted support for families with children under 11, including behaviour guidance, SEND-informed strategies, parenting sessions, and practical help that strengthens routines and reduces stress.
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🤝 Extra Activities & Whole-Family Support: Offering drop-in groups, holiday activities, wellbeing sessions, and essential items such as food, hygiene products, and toys to reduce isolation and create safe spaces to connect.
Where the Money Goes: Our Campaign Budget
Reaching our £10,000 total target (£5,000 from public donations + £5,000 match funding) will directly fund:
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£2,500 – Funds a full volunteer training group (6–8 new volunteers to reach families on our waiting list).
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£2,000 – Provides an intensive perinatal support course for ten families.
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£2,000 – Contributes to Family Support Coordination (staffing time for assessments, home visits, and safeguarding).
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£1,500 – Runs Nurture Groups & Drop-Ins (venue hire, materials, refreshments, and specialist support).
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£2,000 – Essential overheads that allow our services to run safely and effectively across the community.
(Note: If we do not meet our target, all funds raised will still go directly toward supporting families during the perinatal period. If we exceed our target, additional funds will expand our reach to help even more local families.)
Celebrating 30 Years on 9th December 🎂
Making this year’s Big Give week even more special, Wednesday 9th December marks our 30th Birthday.
For three decades, Home-Start Epsom, Ewell & Banstead has been holding local families through hard times. Together, we can mark this 30-year milestone by ensuring every child in our area gets the best possible start in life.
How You & Our Community Can Get Involved 🤝
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🏫 Schools: Host a festive Mufti / Non-Uniform Day in late November or early December.
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☕ Cafes, Restaurants & Pubs: Sign up to host or join our Bus Challenge!
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💼 Businesses & Individuals: Set a reminder to donate online between midday Tuesday 1st December and midday Tuesday 8th December 2026 so your gift is automatically doubled.
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📝 All Supporters: Could you spare 2 minutes to fill out our quick survey? We’d love to see how you can help us before or during campaign week.
Mark Your Calendars!
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Campaign Launch: Midday, Tuesday 1st December 2026
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Campaign Closes: Midday, Tuesday 8th December 2026
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Our 30th Birthday: Wednesday 9th December 2026