Family Support volunteers needed

CAN YOU SPARE 2-3 HOURS A WEEK - TO HELP A LOCAL FAMILY?

Our volunteers are usually parents themselves or have parenting experience, are all ages and come from all walks of life.

All volunteers initially undertake preparation training.  We offer a hybrid course involving some e-learning followed by a couple of face-to-face sessions which serve to consolidate the learning to date, give an opportunity to ask any questions the volunteer may still have and give the Co-ordinators a chance to get to know the volunteers.

As part of the application process volunteers are required to provide two references and undergo an Enhanced Check from the Disclosure & Barring Service.

At the end of the course, volunteers will be “matched” to a referred family by one of the Home-Start Co-ordinators.  Volunteers visit families weekly in their own home to provide the practical or emotional support that has been identified as being needed by that family.  They may also accompany the family to a parent and toddler group, a session at their local Family Centre, to a doctor’s appointment, on outings or shopping if that is the support they need.

The Co-ordinator will continue to support the volunteer throughout the time they are visiting the family with regular support and supervision sessions and they will be invited to attend ongoing training sessions approximately 5 times per year, often with outside speakers on topics relevant to the support Home-Start offers. This offers an ideal opportunity for personal development and also a chance to meet up with other volunteers.

What skills do I need?

What our Home Visiting Volunteers DO

Visit the family regularly, usually once a week for a couple of hours.

Reassure parents that difficulties they experience are not unique to them.

Encourage parents to use local resources

Encourage parents, by highlighting the positive aspects of their parenting.

Play with children – to help stimulate children, or to give the parent some space and    time for themselves

Help the family get out – perhaps to keep appointments, to a group, shopping or taking family to parks etc.

Volunteers can share their own parenting experiences and quite often they can be a listening ear.

What our Home Visiting Volunteers Don't DO

Volunteers are not home helps

Volunteers are not babysitters 

Volunteers are not a transport service