About Home-Start
Who we are
We now have a staff team of 16 Family Support Coordinators, Group Workers and Administrators based from our Hubs in Glasgow and Lanarkshire.
Helping families since 2001
Families supported
Children impacted
Volunteers
What we do
For many years, we’ve worked across communities to provide support for families with young children who are facing difficulties.
We have long-term experience in family support and are established as one of the leading charities working in this field in the community. Our impact within the local communities we serve is far reaching, aiding reduction in isolation and loneliness, improving mental health of adults and children, improving educational attainment, building healthy relationships, supporting more nurturing environments and improving the wellbeing of parents with, or at risk of, mental ill health during the perinatal period (during pregnancy and until infant reaches three year old). With our focus on empowerment and resilience, we assist families to become self-reliant, confident and connected.
Areas we cover
In North Lanarkshire, our service covers North Lanarkshire wide.
Strategic Plan 2024-2029
Family stories
Anna
Anna was referred to us whilst pregnant with her third child. She is from the Congo and was separated from her older two children, who were unable...
Marian
When we first met her, Marian was pregnant and had 2 older children, aged 9 and 2. They lived in cramped and unsuitable accommodation for their...
Chloe, Danny and family
The family were referred to us when mum Chloe was pregnant with their second child. Chloe had been detained under the Mental Health Care Act 2003 in...
Our experience
In addition to coordinating peer support for families over many years, we have developed more specialist projects or integrated specialist skills into our staff and volunteer teams, including perinatal support, learning in the early years, support for refugees and those seeking asylum, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and Video Interaction Guidance. Find out more below or by reading about our specialist work here.
Video Interaction Guidance (VIG)
VIG is a relationship-based intervention to support attuned interactions and attachment. Home-Start Glasgow North believes that parents can enhance...
Maternal Mental Health / Perinatal Support
Home-Start Glasgow North Perinatal Support Service (PSS) provides intensive community-based support for families throughout the woman’s pregnancy...
Refugees and those seeking asylum
From all our referrals 2024/2025, almost 25% were for families seeking asylum or refugees. We recognise the impact for those parents, carers and...
Join the team
Trustee
Home-Start’s vision is to shape a country where all children have the best possible start in life. We want to make sure that no parent or family feels alone in the critical task of raising children. Across our UK-wide federation of 182 Home-Starts, our focus is on building compassionate communities of support for families, parents, and their young children.
Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire (HSGNNL) is a well-recognised charity supporting families, with at least one child under 5, living in North Glasgow and North Lanarkshire. The families we support face challenges such as the impact of poor mental health, isolation, physical health issues, domestic abuse, navigating the complex asylum process whilst dealing with the impact of trauma, and multiple births. HSGNNL receive referrals from a variety of sources including Health Visitors, Social Work and Education. Families can also self-refer.
Whilst volunteer home-visiting remains at the core of our service, we also offer a variety of other supports including groups, intensive family support, and school support.
Our Vision What is our dream?
Children and families are happy, thriving, confident and resilient.
Our Mission What will we do?
To ensure children have the best possible opportunities to flourish, we nurture and support families to build confidence, improve health and wellbeing, strengthen relationships, and connect with their communities.
Our Values How will we behave?
Respect – We respect everyone’s rights, beliefs, and feelings. We treat everyone with empathy, compassion, and dignity.
Integrity – We are accountable for our actions and behaviours. We strive to build honest, trusting relationships with everyone.
Inclusion – We listen and respond to the voices of children and families. We acknowledge their unique needs, preferences, and characteristics ensuring our services are inclusive and accessible for all.
Collaboration – We value everyone’s contribution and explore different ideas. We are curious to learn from others and we build partnerships to bring positive change.
Commitment – We challenge ourselves to be our best and to deliver a meaningful and positive experience for our families, volunteers, and staff.
Compassion – We care deeply about making a difference.
Role of a Trustee
Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that HSGNNL achieves its core purpose. Whilst all involved in the work of HSGNNL, including staff, volunteers, and trustees, have a shared vision and passion of supporting families to be the best they can be, the trustees have responsibility for the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that HSGNNL has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as important, they support and challenge the Senior Management Team to enable HSGNNL to grow and thrive, and through this, achieve our mission.
Trustees have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees always act as a group and not as individuals.
Duties:
- Support and provide advice on HSGNNL’s purpose, vision, goals and activities.
- Provide challenge to the Director and Senior Management Team.
- Approve operational strategies and policies and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
- Oversee HSGNNL’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
- Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
- Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored, and controlled effectively.
- Review and approve HSGNNL’s financial statements.
- Provide support and challenge to HSGNNL’s Director in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
- Keep abreast of changes in HSGNNL’s operating environment.
- Contribute to regular reviews of HSGNNL’s own governance. Attend Board meetings, sub-group meetings and be adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
- Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith, to promote and protect HSGNNL’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.
- Contribute to the broader promotion of HSGNNL’s objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge, and contacts.
As a mid-sized charity, there will be times when the trustees will need to be actively involved beyond Board meetings. This may involve scrutinising Board papers, leading discussions, assisting with recruitment, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, presenting externally, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
What we are looking for
We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our Board.
(You do not need previous governance experience – we will provide a full induction and training).
Personal skills and qualities
- Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
- A passion for improving the lives of parents and their young children.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a Board member.
- Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
- A strong personal commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.
- Willingness to lead according to our values.
Whilst we are looking for “core” trustees we are also looking for some specialist roles, which include finance, IT, legal and data protection.
Applicants should have the values, experience and passion to lead at a time when our support is needed more than ever. The successful candidate will be inspiring and inclusive and will provide strategic leadership and direction alongside a strong and experienced Board of trustees to ensure the ongoing delivery of governance for HSGNNL.
HSGNNL understands the importance of representation and is eager to ensure that the Board reflects the families, stakeholders, and staff which it represents and welcomes expressions of interest from all individuals who have the experience and expertise needed to help direct and shape the organisation for the future.
The Board of trustees currently meets quarterly, in person early evening. Trustees may also be asked to support our Finance & Audit and Performance Through People Committees, as well as supporting the organisation in other ways, for example supporting staff recruitment, reviewing funding applications etc. Trustees would normally be expected to volunteer at least 4-6 hours per month, either for Board meetings or for email exchanges on Board decisions or projects. The initial appointment is for a 4-year term with the opportunity for reappointment.
The is a voluntary position but expenses are offered.
How to Apply
In the first instance, please contact Nikki O’Hara, Director, for further information about the trustee role/informal discussion nikki@homestartgnnl.org.uk
The following documentation will be required to be completed at the application stage:
- Application Form – https://forms.gle/Z349vRAD5nj3zbnF6 & Reference Consent Form
- Equalities Monitoring Form
- Self-Declaration Form for Regulated Work with Children
The following document will be required to be completed on appointment:
OSCR Declaration by Charity Trustee – https://www.oscr.org.uk/media/beph4nva/trustee-declaration-form.pdf
Family Support Peer Volunteer
Our Volunteers are trained and given expert support from our staff team so that they can provide the best support for parents and their children. Through a careful matching process, Peer Volunteers can build a strong and trusting relationship with a family they may go on to support for many months.
We help families from all backgrounds through their most challenging times and with just a couple of hours a week can transform the lives of parents and their children. Our Volunteers provide non-judgemental, compassionate and confidential support, giving families the right help at the right time and in a way that suits them.
By volunteering your time and experiences for just a few hours each week you can even change lives, including your own. We know from research the benefits to our volunteers ; in developing new skills, building confidence and relationships and also supporting training and placements for work and study.
You can watch volunteer experiences here and hear from Volunteers based from our Glasgow hub here.
Visit our Volunteer Page for more information and get in touch.
Our leadership team
Together, they ensure we’re here for families when they need us most, that our volunteers are trained and supported and that our service remains effective, reaching as many in our communities as possible.
Nikki O'Hara
Nikki leads our service overall, reporting directly to the Board.
Specifically, Nikki works on the implementation of our strategy, creating and maintaining strategic connections & relationships and ensuring our work integrates with local and national priorities. As the most senior staff member, Nikki is also responsible for our relationship with the wider Home-Start network in Scotland and with Home-Start UK.
Donna Forrest
Donna is a member of the Senior Management Team and is responsible for the delivery of all administrative and financial support, enquiry management and oversight of supplier relationships. Donna manages the Communication, Admin and Data Officer.
Karen Erskine
Karen is a member of the Senior Management Team and is responsible for overseeing the Family Support Coordinator teams across Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire, providing leadership, staff development and six-weekly supervision sessions to ensure staff are supported and receive ongoing training. She also has line management responsibility for the Volunteer Coordinator to support them in the recruitment, training, and retention of volunteers. Karen actively builds connections with local partners and community networks to strengthen HSGNNL’s community presence as well as managing referrals and maintaining strong relationships with referrers.
Yvonne Farrelly
As the Programme Manager, Yvonne is a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and is responsible for leading the continued development and service delivery of the innovative early years family Hub in Maryhill. Yvonne also provides strategic and operational leadership to the family support team at the Hub and has responsibility for line managing and supporting the HSGNNL Group Workers and the ARC (Antenatal Results and Choice) Family Support Worker in collaboration with ARC (the charity).
Celia Maclean
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 with our Chair to discuss any opportunities or to express an interest in future vacancies; chairperson@homestartglasgownorth.org.uk
Jackie Luporini
Jackie has worked in financial services for most of her career, latterly focussed on managing teams investigating fraud, financial crime and whistleblowing.
Having undertaken a number of voluntary roles in the community, Jackie is keen to support our work with families and creating the right environment for our children to grow and flourish.
Jackie is a member of our Finance Committee.
Vina Malloo
Member of the Finance Committee
Vina is a development professional. Over a career spanning 35 years, she has worked in a range of organisations including the UK Government’s Department for International Development and Foreign & Commonwealth Office, multilateral and non-governmental agencies, national government and the British Council.
Vina has worked in the UK and internationally (including in Bangladesh, Nepal, China, India, Mauritius and Mozambique) in wide-ranging management and advisory roles covering the design and implementation of development programmes.
Vina is a trustee on the boards of Home-Start Glasgow North & North Lanarkshire and Glasgow East Women’s Aid. She also volunteers as an information officer with Macmillan Cancer Support.
Vina’s formal qualifications include an MSc in Organisational Behaviour (University of London), a postgraduate qualification in Development Management (The Open University), COSCA Accreditation in Counselling (University of Glasgow) and Leadership and Management (London Business School).
Gill McInnes
Gill graduated from Strathclyde University in 1997 having completed a Diploma in Personnel Management in 1990. Her career in Human Resources has spanned a variety of sectors including hospitality, retail but mainly in the health sector. Whilst working for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Primary Care Trust, Gill was seconded to be part of the set up team to establish NHS 24 in 2001, where she is still employed. Her areas of focus and interest include recruitment, employment law, developing the young workforce, equalities and corporate parenting. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Sheila Gillies
Child and Adult Protection Lead
Sheila started her social work career in the voluntary sector before moving into local authority social work services where she worked for 30 years in the west of Scotland. She has worked as a practitioner and manager in a range of social work settings including area services, families and young people, adults with disabilities, mental health and older people. Through these roles she developed experience in resource and people management, strategic planning, service design and partnership working. On retiring in 2011 she continued to be involved in social work and social care services as a voluntary Board member, gaining new skills in governance and organisational oversight. Her particular interests are around support and services for women, children and families.
Amy Glover
Amy moved into the charity sector in 2021 to run the volunteer department at Young Enterprise Scotland. She now works as Senior Advisor – Volunteer Management & Retention at British Red Cross. Prior to that she worked for MCR Pathways, training and supporting volunteers who mentor care-experienced young people in schools across Scotland.
Before moving into volunteer management, Amy ran her own successful pre-school music business in Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire, working with Early Years Centres, family support groups and children with English as an additional language and additional support needs.
Amy is also a Panel Member for Children’s Hearings Scotland and is studying for the CMI Diploma in Leadership and Management.
Charles Galbraith
Charles has had a long career working across a range of financial services roles in Scotland and London, 30 years of which was with Bank of Scotland (qualifying as a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland) with the subsequent 12 years working with Clydesdale Bank (latterly became Virgin Money UK Plc). During his time at Bank of Scotland he held a number of operational managerial and relationship management roles directly supporting bank SME and Corporate (UK and Overseas) clients, UK Government departments and the bank’s own relationships with its correspondent overseas banks. He took up a project management role at Clydesdale Bank in 2010. Charles retired from Virgin Money UK Plc in August 2022.
Anna Faulds
Member of the Finance Committee
Anna joined the Board in May 2023 after building her financial experience working in both the public sector and in an accountancy firm working with private and third sector clients. She is a Chartered Accountant and a member of ICAS (the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland) and currently working for the AAB Group.
Mani Rao
Mani has a background in language, communication and speech disorders. Her career spans over 35 years in both India and Glasgow. During this time she has worked as a clinician, academician, researcher and also management of a department of Speech & Language Pathology. A large part of her early career was spent in India establishing training programmes at Bachelor & Masters level in Speech/Language Pathology at a national centre in Mumbai. She is an alumnus of Mysore University, India where she obtained a Masters qualification and later at City University, London where she was awarded a Doctoral Degree.
Mani has worked nearly two decades at NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. Her experience has mainly been with paediatric population and within the NHS community services, specialising in developmental language impairment and dyslexia. She retired in 2018 and uses her spare time to volunteer with various charities and enjoy her interest in animals, culture and travel.
Mani joined Home-Start Glasgow North as a volunteer more than 5years ago. She feels it is a way to keep connected with children and use her skills. The other charities she volunteers with are British Red Cross and Pet Fostering Scotland.
Sarah Jane Thompson
Sarah Jane began a career in digital publishing in 1999 and has since worked in online publishing and marketing for over 20 years. As well as editorial roles at newspapers, including the Daily Record and Herald, she also worked for advertising agencies and a football company over the years with a focus on digital communications.
Having experience as a Panel Member with Children’s Hearings Scotland, and a young family of her own, the opportunity to join Home-Start appealed greatly to Sarah Jane as a way to support families and children in Scotland with skills and experience developed during her career.
Fair Work First Statement
- Payment of at least the Real Living Wage
- Provision of effective channels for effective workers’ voice, such as trade union recognition
- Investment in workforce development
- No inappropriate use of zero-hours contracts
- Action to address the gender pay gap and create a more diverse and inclusive workplace
- Flexible and family-friendly working practices from day one of employment
- Opposition to the use of fire and rehire practices
HSGNNL is fully aligned with these principles and demonstrates its commitment through the following actions:
Real Living Wage employer – HSGNNL is an accredited Real Living Wage Employer, as listed on the Living Wage Scotland website https://scottishlivingwage.org/employer-directory/
Effective Workers’ Voice – HSGNNL promotes regular and meaningful engagement with staff through staff surveys, team meetings, two-way feedback during support and supervision meetings, annual appraisals, six-monthly reviews, and staff representation on the Performance Through People Committee. Additional informal communication channels are also encouraged in line with our values of openness and collaboration.
Workforce Development – HSGNNL prioritises professional development for all staff by supporting access to relevant learning and training opportunities to enhance skills. Staff health and well-being is also a key priority.
Fair Contracts – HSGNNL uses appropriate and transparent contract arrangements, ensuring fixed-term and permanent contracts are applied fairly and provide clarity and security for employees.
Diversity and Inclusion – through our Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, HSGNNL is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects and understands the communities it serves. Recruitment and employment data is reviewed regularly to support this aim.
Family-Friendly Practices – HSGNNL offers a comprehensive suite of family-friendly policies, with entitlements available from the first day of employment. These go beyond statutory requirements to support staff well-being and work-life balance.
No Fire and Rehire – HSGNNL strongly opposes and does not engage in fire and rehire practices.
This commitment underpins our values and helps ensure HSGNNL remains a fair, inclusive, and supportive place to work.
