Our team of family hub champions are located at family hubs throughout the city. They are here to answer your questions and connect you with the right activities and support.
These champions work for Home-Start Portsmouth and are part of Best Start In Life.
Jen, who was born in Portsmouth, has been working at Home-Start Portsmouth since 2022. Before that, she spent 10 years as a midwife with the NHS. She is now the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Champion at Home-Start Portsmouth. Jen is also part of the Portsmouth Good Gym, which helps local charities and non-profit organizations with practical tasks. She lives in Fratton with her partner and their six-year-old daughter.
Steph joined Buckland Family hub as a Family Hub Champion in July 2025, keen to support families in Portsmouth. Before taking on this role, she worked as a secondary school teacher for 15 years both in Portsmouth and in London. Steph has always worked with children and families and loves being part of Home-Start Portsmouth, working with
families as part of a supportive and caring organisation. Steph also volunteers with the Breast Feeding Network.
Sarah joined Milton Park Family Hub as Family Hub Champion in July 2025 to offer support to young Families like her own. She previously worked in Havelock Community Centre in Southsea after re-evaluating her career in retail following the birth of her first child during lockdown and missing face-to-face community support and connection during this time. She has two boys, aged, 6 and 10 months.
Denise has been working at Home-Start Portsmouth since 2021 as the coordinator for the charity’s Stay and Play groups and Portsmouth Parent Board. She is a mother to her son and received support from Home-Start Portsmouth when she had postnatal depression. Outside of work, she has volunteered at the Stacey Community Centre, where she helped run a disco for people with learning difficulties.
Alyson started working at Home-Start Portsmouth as a family hub champion in August 2023. She is originally from South London but moved to Hampshire nine years ago. She has two grown-up children and four grandchildren. Alyson has been a manager in various early years settings and schools, a lecturer in early years and childcare, and has volunteered with the Guides and as a governor at a nursery school.
This is covered by the Family Hub Champion team and provides online parenting courses, email familyhubchampions@hsportsmouth.org.uk, or use the text anywhere service on 07860 025516.
