Volunteer for Home-Start
By volunteering just a few hours each week you can transform the lives of young children and their parents in your community.
Be a Home-Start volunteer
No special qualifications are necessary to become a Home-
Talking and listening can empower families to overcome their difficult situations. Volunteers are offered on-going training and support activities including specialist speakers and visits to family support services, as well as informal social gatherings.
What it takes to be a Home-Start Volunteer
- For working with families, it would be preferred for you be a parent or have parenting experience/career involved with families or children.
- As a Home-Start volunteer you will support a family by visiting them at home for around two to three hours once a week.
- For working with families, you should be able to commit at least one year of your time to Home-Start.
- You should have a non-judgmental 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.
- When visiting a family travel expenses are paid.
- You must understand that your support for families is completely confidential.
- You will have to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check at enhanced level.
- You will meet regularly with, and be supported by, one of our co-ordinators during the time you are visiting families.
Do you have what it takes to be a Home-Start volunteer? Are you keen to help parents and children in your community? Please download an application form to start your journey transforming lives in your area.
Training to be a Home-Start Ards, Comber & Peninsula volunteer
To support families and carry out necessary work at the scheme, Home-Start Ards, Comber & Peninsula Area we recruit volunteers from all backgrounds within our catchment areas. We provide out of pocket expenses for attending the Volunteer Preparation Course (which is designed by Home-Start UK and includes a course file with all the necessary support and information for the support of families). Scheme information and links with other organisations will also be included within the preparation period. Depending on the number of applicants at any one time, the course is delivered either on a one-to-one basis or within a small group but would take place for 3-4 hours each week (4-8 sessions, depending on group size) and a final meeting to discuss volunteering after the sessions.
Volunteers supporting families would need to be vetted through AccessNI and we would expect all volunteers to be non-judgemental and have an understanding of parent’s needs, adhere to confidentiality within all aspects of their work with families and where appropriate within the scheme. The ability to communicate well and follow all policies and procedures is of high importance. We would expect a regular commitment of 2-4 hours each week if after initial preparation you decide to go ahead and we would like you to ideally commit to at least one year.
Further opportunities to meet other volunteers and staff will occur throughout the year and on-going training is provided or sourced. On-going support includes social events, these are provided by the scheme and organised by the Scheme Manager plus the staffing team. Our two main events are, Volunteers Day (1st week in June every year) and our Annual Networking Event (usually the first part of December each year). Mount Stewart (National Trust House & Gardens), Bangor Castle & Museum & walled Garden + the local Wild Fowlers Inn, Greyabbey have all been recent volunteer and staff outings. These trips give volunteers and staff an opportunity to meet up as they often work remotely.
If you are interested and want further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Your time could make a big difference to a family. You may want to volunteer in another way within the Scheme, ie, Fundraising/Charity Shop Assistant, Administration, Driving, Trustee Membership, etc. again contact us at our main office.
Volunteer testimonials
Being a Volunteer and visiting families is something I really enjoy. Everyone is different and it can be a bit stressful at times – but I draw on my own experiences and situations when I was a young mum (a long time ago) but now I’m a grandmother and I really enjoy being a Volunteer.
Volunteering opened up a whole new world for me, meeting people I might never have met, friendships that last far beyond the toddler years and hopefully a little help along the way. That is what Home-Start means to me.
I have recently began Volunteering with this family. This is the 2nd family I have supported through Home-Start. I find it very rewarding, and it has helped my self-confidence. Joyce is always there to provide support and I find that very useful.
Other ways to volunteer for Home-Start
Share your time and skills to help our work
If you are unable to comment to weekly home visiting there are many other opportunities at Home-Start.
We welcome volunteer drivers to transport families and children to and from groups or trips, our shops rely heavily on volunteers to keep them open or you could support our groups. You may prefer to get involved in one off projects such as fundraising projects, gardening or DIY.
Join us as a Trustee to help shape the future of our work with families
The Home-Start Ards, Comber & Peninsula Area Scheme Trustees are registered as Directors of the Scheme. They work on a voluntary basis and have a wide range of career skills and experience, including: Accounts/Finances, Midwifery, Nursing, Child Psychology and an understanding of the needs of families and children. They meet every 6-8 weeks, are involved in Scheme Matters on an on-going basis and are responsible for the Strategic Management of the Scheme.
We are currently recruiting for additional Trustees so if you have any time to spare and could support the Scheme in this important way, it would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any of these skills, e.g. previously worked in an office, employed or volunteered within a Voluntary/Community organisation, are or have been a member of a PTA within a School, a sound knowledge of parenting needs, fundraising experience, interested in how Charities operate – perhaps you are currently studying, or you are genuinely interested in making a difference to an established Family Support Charity who are supporting families within your local area. If you match any of these skills, are reliable, honest and committed and want to discuss joining the team, please contact our main office at Greyabbey, 028 42788369
Become a Home-Start Volunteer Today
Home-Start’s team of trained volunteers make sure a child’s early years count. By volunteering just a few hours each week you can transform the lives of young children and their parents in your community.