Home-Start began in 1973, when Margaret Harrison had a simple but powerful idea: the best way to support families is in their own homes, offered by someone who understands what it’s like to be a parent. That neighbour-to-neighbour model grew from Leicester into a movement now active in 22 countries across five continents.
Our own story began in Paisley in 2001, when Home-Start Renfrewshire was established with a small team of two, funded by Renfrewshire Council. From the beginning, we have been rooted in our local communities, supporting families in their homes, building trust and growing through the commitment of local volunteers.
In 2015, working in partnership with Home-Start UK and the National Lottery Community Fund, we launched the Inverclyde Satellite Project – the first new Home-Start area in Scotland in more than a decade, and the first to grow as a satellite service.
By 2016, we had officially become Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde (HSRI), reflecting our deepening presence across both communities, with a growing team and volunteer base drawn from the areas we serve.
Today, in 2026, HSRI is made up of 22 staff and around 120 dedicated volunteers, most of them parents and carers from Renfrewshire and Inverclyde themselves. Alongside our original home-visiting model, we now run 12 weekly groups across our communities, all built on the same understanding that families thrive when they feel connected, understood and supported.
Twenty five years on, we remain rooted in the belief that communities are strongest when they support one another.
Our history is built on the belief that “ordinary people doing extraordinary things” can change the course of a family’s life. From our dedicated Board of Trustees who guide our strategic vision to the 115 volunteers at the heart of our service, HSRI is a community-led movement rooted in trust and compassion.
Discover the team of staff, volunteers, and trustees who turn our mission into a reality every day across Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.
