Home-Start Medway’s 2025 AGM
On 15 October 2025, we were delighted to welcome volunteers, staff, funders, stakeholders, families, and special guests, including the Worshipful Mayor of Medway, Trevor Clarke to our Annual General Meeting.
Our CEO, Raz Goodred, reflected on a transformative year defined by growth, resilience, and meaningful impact. With over 615 referrals, our services from home visits and domestic abuse support, to developmental programmes like Tiny Talkers and Little Adventurers, reached hundreds of families across Medway.
The event was filled with energy and connection, including a lively quiz hosted by Mya and Raz that showcased the breadth of Home-Start Medway’s work over the past year.
We celebrated the power of collaboration, extending heartfelt thanks to our dedicated team of 9 staff members, 35 volunteers, and our many partners. Together, we’ve made a real difference.
Highlights from the Year:
- Expansion of group programmes including DA Café, Bloom and Grow, and the Phoenix Programme
- Continued support for Army families at Maidstone and Brompton Barracks
- A growing presence at the One Stop Shop, where we supported 267 individuals affected by domestic abuse
Our 2025 theme: Collaboration — the cornerstone of everything we do. To bring this theme to life, attendees took part in a fun and symbolic team challenge: building the tallest tower using spaghetti and marshmallows in just five minutes! It was a joyful (and slightly chaotic!) reminder that, like families, strong foundations and the right support help us reach new heights.
One of the most moving moments came from women supported by our incredible Domestic Abuse Coordinator, Yvette. Since launching the DA Café last October, Yvette has created a safe space for survivors to connect, heal, and share their stories. Their courageous testimonials brought many to tears and reminded us of the strength it takes to rebuild after trauma — and the power of a supportive community.
We were also honoured to welcome:
- Lucie Green, who gave an insightful and empowering talk on navigating the menopause and its impact on women and families
- The inspirational team from Great Leaps Adventure Centre, who led our Team Building Day and surprised us with a free session for our volunteers — a generous gesture that truly embodied our theme of collaboration
The event concluded with a heartfelt speech from Mayor Trevor Clarke, who praised the vital role Home-Start Medway plays in supporting local families and acknowledged the significant impact of our work.
Thank you to everyone who joined us. Your presence and support help us build a community where every child has the opportunity to thrive. Here’s to another year of working together, lifting each other up, and continuing to build a brighter future — one family at a time.
“It was lovely to see Karen, Steph and Sarah, the team who support our children with small groups called Little Adventurers and Tiny Talkers. If you would like your child to take part please ask your keyperson for more details. The children really enjoy attending and have lots of fun too.”
“What an amazing event this was. Showcasing the amazing work they do all year, with testimonials from some incredibly brave women who shared their stories of strength and resilience who with the support of Homestart have rebuilt their lives after domestic violence. Supporting forces families, young families needing a friendly face and much more…Homestart really do, do it all because childhood can’t wait!
I feel very proud that we as a store and with our customers support are able to help Homestart each week as the team there carry out this vital work.”
“What an incredible event with amazing people, real life stories from DA survivors who with the support of this wonderful charity have been able to rebuild their lives. I am glad I had tissues because the raw honesty from these brave women was very emotional.
The staff and volunteers of this vital charity are exceptional. Thank you for having me and for a really great day. The spaghetti and marshmallow tower exercise was great fun! ”