12 Oct 2026
The trustees of Home-Start Hertfordshire have decided to wind down and subsequently close the charity, citing worsening economic conditions for the reason.
The charity delivers high quality volunteer-led services to support families in Hertfordshire through challenging times, stepping in to support parents through their difficulties as early as possible, helping them grow in confidence and build support networks in their community.
Locally in St Albans, Home-Start Herts runs the annual Pancake Festival in partnership with Business Buzz, having taken over the event from the district council.
The Shrove Tuesday fundraiser sees teams from local businesses, charities and other organisations competing in either running or walking races down St Peter’s Street – all while flipping pancakes in a frying pan. Whether it will continue is now uncertain.
A statement from the board of trustees said: “This has not been an easy decision, nor one we have reached lightly. Like so many small charities across Hertfordshire and the wider country, we have faced a growing and unsustainable gap between rising running costs and falling income.
“Despite the very best efforts of our trustees, staff, and volunteers, and despite the generosity of people like you, the economic conditions we now operate in mean that continuing as we have done is simply no
longer possible. Unfortunately, we cannot carry our current structure as a partnership with Herts Mind Network into another form, and so we must, with heavy hearts, bring Home-Start Hertfordshire to a close.
“Our heartfelt thanks go to Herts Mind for supporting and assisting us to continue for the last year.
“We want to be honest with you, because you deserve nothing less. This is a genuine loss, not just for those of us who have given our time and energy to this charity, but for the children and families across Hertfordshire who have relied on our support.
“We are devastated to be closing our doors, and we know this news will be upsetting to many of you too. What we want you to know, above all, is how deeply grateful we are.
“None of the work we have done over the years would have been possible without you. Whether you gave your time, your money, your skills, or simply your encouragement, you helped us reach children and families when they needed it most. You gave activity instead of worry, you gave parents a moment of support on a hard day, and you gave families the sense that someone, somewhere, cared about them. That impact does not disappear because our doors are closing. It lives on in every family we were able to help because of your support.
“Thank you, from all of us, for believing in this small charity and in the children and families it was set up to serve. It has been a privilege to do this work, and that has only been possible because of you.”
