Home-Start West Berkshire’s online auction boosts support for local families this Christmas

Home-Start West Berkshire, a local charity offering vital support to families with children under five, has once again rallied community spirit through its online Auction of Promises — which runs until 8pm this Sunday.

The auction featured around 50 donated items and experiences, from luxury dinners to creative workshops, all helping to raise essential funds for the charity’s work supporting parents facing challenges such as isolation, financial hardship, and poor physical or mental health.

Grace from Home-Start West Berkshire joined Kennet Radio ahead of the auction’s close to talk about the charity’s work and its fundraising aims. She explained how trained volunteers provide practical help and emotional support to parents who might otherwise have no one to turn to.

“Being a parent is difficult at the best of times,” Grace said. “But when you’ve got other challenges to face, it’s even harder. Our volunteers offer a listening ear and a helping hand to families who might otherwise have no one to turn to.”

Auction Highlights

The Auction of Promises included an impressive mix of prizes donated by local supporters — including Home-Start patron Lady Benyon. Highlights featured:

• A private dinner for eight at Englefield House, a rare opportunity as the house isn’t open to the public
• A guided walk through Englefield Gardens followed by cream tea at the Englefield Tea Rooms
• Creative experiences such as a wood-turning workshop, Indian block printing class, and learn-to-crochet session
• Toy bundles perfect for families this Christmas

The charity set a fundraising target of £16,000 and had already reached £4,400 at the time of recording, with bids increasing steadily each day.

“It’s creeping up each day,” Grace said. “And we’ve had some lovely new additions, like a bottle of whisky and a beautiful festive wreath from Mabel and Merlin.”

Other ways to support

Even after the auction closes, supporters can still help through the Big Give Christmas Challenge, where all donations are match-funded, meaning every pound given has double the impact.

Home-Start also welcomes new volunteers, who are the heart of the charity’s work. Volunteers offer two to three hours a week to visit families in their homes, while others help with administration, events, or the Home-Start Baby Bank, which redistributes children’s clothes, toys and equipment to families in need.

“We’re always looking for people who have time, skills, or energy to share,” Grace added. “Even something simple like running a quiz night in your community can make a big difference.”

To learn more about volunteering, donations, or the Baby Bank, visit the Home-Start West Berkshire website or follow Home-Start West Berkshire Baby Bank on Facebook for updates.

🎧 You can listen to the full interview with Grace from Home-Start West Berkshire on the Kennet Radio podcast https://kennetradio.com/podcast-there-for-parents-when-they-need-it-most-homestart-west-berkshire/

🕗 For those catching this post in time — there’s still around an hour left to get your final bids in before the auction closes!