Registered office: Home-Start UK
2 Salisbury Road, Leicester, LEI 7QR Tel: 0116 233 9955 Fax: 0116 233 0232
Home-Start Deveron , 5 - 7 Strait Path, Banff, AB45 1AD
Registered Company No: SC280867 Registered Charity No: SC026191 Tel: 01261 819964
What is Home-Start?
Home-Start is a national charity with schemes in hundreds of local communities. We recruit and train volunteers to help families with young children. Our volunteers, who know about being a parent, support other parents by visiting them in their own homes for a couple of hours each week. We also run special family groups and hold social events for families.
What kind of families would I be helping?
All kinds of families can find it hard to cope for all sorts of reasons, maybe because of the illness or disability of a child or because of post-natal illness, bereavement or loneliness. At Home-Start we support any parent with young children who asks for our help and our supported families, like our volunteers, come from all walks of life.
Can my support and friendship really make a difference?
All parents know that those early years before children go off to school are vital in a child's life and at Home-Start we believe parents have the key role in creating a secure childhood for their children. It's just that sometimes they need a bit of help your help.
As a volunteer what would I actually do?
Usually you visit a family in their own home once a week for a couple of hours. How you help is really down to the family itself. Some might need someone to talk to... others may need more practical support with meal planning and cooking, reading to the children, going to the local park, or finding out about local services.
Do I need any qualifications to be a volunteer?
The only real qualification is experience of bringing up children. Friendliness and a caring attitude are essential as well as an understanding of the pressures of parenting. We value people who don't judge others; people who will respect the fact that they have been invited into a family's home; people who will treat a mother or father as an equal.
Do volunteers get any training?
Yes, we give high priority to the recruitment, induction, training and support of all our volunteers. You will be supported during your training and throughout your contact with families. Home-Start's highly rated Preparation Course is also accredited by the Open College Network. If your scheme offers this accreditation you will be able to gain credits through formal recognition of your Home-Start training.
What would I get out of volunteering for Home-Start?
Knowing you have helped; a boost to your self-esteem and confidence; even a foot on the ladder towards a job. See what Philippa says in her story
Can I help without visiting families?
Yes. Schemes also need volunteers to help run family groups and social activities and to help raise funds. They also need volunteer trustees to help manage their work.
