Volunteering
Home-Start runs more services and has more volunteers supporting more families than any other family support charity in the UK..
Volunteers Strengths:
Our family support volunteers understand the pressures of family life and the struggles and joy of raising a family. The come from different backgrounds and vary in age and wish to give something back to their local community.
They provide non-judgemental, practical and emotional support and help build the family’s confidence and ability to cope.
Our volunteers make a long-lasting difference to families who welcome a helping hand when needed. Benefiting children long term and reducing problems escalating in the future that ensures they have a happy and secure family life.
Some volunteers support families in the family’s home, within our family groups, phone, text or video support, fundraising, admin support and co-facilitating support groups.
What support do I get?
Training, friendship, training, socials, resources and much more. A member of staff will guide and support you from the beginning and we will take into account your skills, interests and ambitions.
We understand that volunteers volunteer for many reasons – to make a difference to their local community or are looking for opportunities to plan for their future.
- We provided the opportunity for and provided experience for 15 volunteers and 3 families to gain a “Children and Young People Workforce “ Level 3 qualification.
- 22 volunteers to gain level 2 qualification in understanding Autism with 3 of them going on to take further qualifications.
- 19 volunteers complete functional skills English, Maths and computer skills.
- Supported 19 volunteers gain experience facilitating in our support groups.
- Opportunity for 28 volunteers gain admin experience.
- By volunteers gaining experience has resulted in 47 volunteers to gain their Social Work Degree.
- 4 volunteers gain level 5 counselling skills.
- 3 volunteers gain their Midwifery Degree.
- 24 volunteers seek further education opportunities.
- 71 volunteers gain employment.
- 7 volunteers to foster children.
- 4 volunteers adopt children.
- 19 Home-Start volunteers have secured other volunteering opportunities.
- 59 families that we have supported in the past have gone on to volunteer and support other families within Home-Start.
Because Childhood Can't Wait
A quick guide to becoming a volunteer
- Contact the office on 01527 62819, or email
info@home-startneworcestershire.org.uk a member of staff will contact you for a chat and explore what opportunities we can offer you.
- You will have to undergo a criminal record check at enhanced level, fill out an application form providing 2 referees for us to contact.
- You should be able to commit at least 1 year of your time to Home-Start.
- You should have a non-judgemental attitude and understand about the pressures of bringing up a family.
- You will have to attend our free Volunteer Preparation Course with other new volunteers before meeting your first family.
- Expenses are paid when you support a family.
- You must understand that your support to families is completely confidential.
- Fill in a diary sheet after each home-visit.
- You will be supported by Home-Start NEW during the time you are visiting families.