Home Start Wessex Marks Landmark Year of Community Support with Double Award Wins
Home Start Wessex is celebrating a record-breaking year, having provided vital support to over 500 local families in crisis. The charity’s success was recently recognised with a double victory at the 2025 BCP and West Dorset Business Awards, where it secured the Silver Community Support Award at both ceremonies.
The charity’s annual report, released in early August, revealed that it supported 526 families, impacting the lives of 1,716 parents and children across Dorset and south Wiltshire. This achievement marks a new high for the organisation, surpassing the previous year’s record. A significant portion of this growth is attributed to the charity’s expansion into West Dorset in late 2023, following the closure of a local Home-Start branch.
Kathy Fryatt-Banks, CEO of Home-Start Wessex, commented on the milestone, saying, “What an amazing year for Home-Start Wessex! It was one of our most ambitious yet, as we increased our team and began to establish our services across West Dorset. We are thrilled that we smashed our target and supported a record of 526 families in need.”
The success was further highlighted by the recent award wins. The BCP Gold Business Awards and West Dorset Gold Business Awards, organised by Marketing West, honour the “winners of the winners” from smaller regional competitions. At both events, the judges praised Home-Start Wessex for its three decades of service and the crucial role its dedicated volunteers play in providing support.
Belinda Hewett, Head of Operations, said of the recognition, “Gaining recognition for the work we have put into helping local families day in, day out, means a lot to our dedicated volunteers and staff. We could not deliver our service without them.”
Home-Start Wessex provides a range of services, including one-to-one home visits and specialist family support groups for parents with at least one child under five. The charity reports a high success rate, with 97% of supported parents reporting that they felt more in control of their lives and 95% noting improved children’s well-being.
