Home-Start HOST supports families in the community who have at least one child under the age of 5. The families we support reflect the diversity of the communities that we work in, but we can only do this with the assistance of our equally diverse volunteers. If you speak more than one language (regardless of what this may be), we would love to hear from you!
Key information
- Start Date: 5th November 2024
- End Date: 5th February 2025
- Volunteer: Weekly
- Availability: Monday AM, Monday PM, Tuesday AM, Tuesday PM, Wednesday AM, Wednesday PM, Thursday AM, Thursday PM, Friday AM, Friday PM
- Tasks: Our volunteers visit their family at home for around 2 hours every week, providing support tailored to the family's needs. The families we support face a wide range of issues, such as loneliness and isolation, ill health, mild to moderate mental health difficulties, bereavement, multiple births, first time parenthood or children with additional needs.
We believe every parent wants to give their children the best start in life, and we aim to provide friendly, non-judgemental support to help them do that - we know parenting isn't always easy!
Our volunteers provide a sympathetic ear and help with everyday activities - this might be playing with the children, accompanying a family to the park or to a toddler group, or listening to a parent's concerns and offering support, reassurance and information.
You'll be supported by a Home-Start coordinator, who will match you with a family, who you'll then visit each week. We aim to achieve a 'good match' so you'll get on well with the family you support, and you'll receive full training and be able to contact your coordinator or our office if you ever feel you need support!
As you will be supporting parents and children in their own homes, it is essential that you can empathise with the challenges of parenthood and family life and see these in the context of the family's wider situation. - Training: We offer a full Volunteer Preparation Course, which covers all aspects of our home-visiting support model. You will also be able to access further training in supporting families with Parent-Infant Mental Health.
- Requirements: Willing to travel by public transport or find own way to volunteering location
- Interests: Children, Families, Mental Health, Social care, Women
- Activities: Befriending, Mentoring
- DBS Check: Yes
We believe every parent wants to give their children the best start in life, and we aim to provide friendly, non-judgemental support to help them do that - we know parenting isn't always easy!
Our volunteers provide a sympathetic ear and help with everyday activities - this might be playing with the children, accompanying a family to the park or to a toddler group, or listening to a parent's concerns and offering support, reassurance and information.
You'll be supported by a Home-Start coordinator, who will match you with a family, who you'll then visit each week. We aim to achieve a 'good match' so you'll get on well with the family you support, and you'll receive full training and be able to contact your coordinator or our office if you ever feel you need support!
As you will be supporting parents and children in their own homes, it is essential that you can empathise with the challenges of parenthood and family life and see these in the context of the family's wider situation.