Business, Charity | Posted on August 26th, 2025 | return to news

Call for businesses to help Dorset families in crisis

Home-Start Wessex is celebrating its 30-year milestone by calling on businesses to get involved with a new campaign to help families in crisis.

The Dorset charity, Home-Start Wessex, was founded in 1995. It is celebrating 30 years of supporting local families, and to mark the milestone, it has launched a 30 for 30 campaign to raise funds to support 30 families in need.

Home-Start Wessex is looking for 30 businesses keen to make a positive social impact within the community. By pledging to donate £960, each company could support a struggling family and make a positive and significant difference to the course of a child’s life. £960 is the amount it costs the charity to help a family for six months to get back on their feet.

The charity offers friendship, practical support and emotional advice to parents in Dorset with at least one child under five when they are in crisis, providing specialist groups and one-to-one home visits. Families could be experiencing various issues such as poor mental health, disability, domestic abuse, bereavement, isolation, multiple births or family breakdown.

Darren Lewis, community fundraising and events officer at Home-Start Wessex, said: “We believe that parents are key to a happy and secure childhood. We know our support makes a life-changing difference. But our support is more in demand than ever, and we need companies to help us continue our work to give children the best start in life.

“Businesses can donate £960 or quarterly donations of £240. You can fundraise throughout the year with dress-down days, cake sales, and other fundraising challenges. We are happy to help with ideas and support — let your imagination run free. We will never be able to thank you enough for the difference you will make.”

Each contributing company will be invited to a special end-of-year 30 for 30 campaign event where they will be introduced to other socially aware businesses and have the opportunity to promote their positive contributions to the local community.

Over the last year, the charity says it has transformed 1,716 lives, helping a record 526 families.

The reach of Home-Start Wessex covers the Purbecks, Swanage, Weymouth, Dorchester, Bridport, the whole of the BCP Council area, including Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, across the borders of Hampshire and Wiltshire, going as far north as Cranborne and Fordingbridge and as far east as New Milton. This area has an estimated population of over 650,000, including pockets of high-level deprivation.

To pledge your support for the 30 for 30 campaign, email darren@homestartwessex.org.uk or visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/hsw30for30.