Home-Visiting Volunteer

Your offer of time and support, as a volunteer, can mean the world to a family. Becoming a parent, whether it’s the first or the fourth time, can be an isolating experience. 

Home-Visiting Volunteers offer families support and encouragement in their home by visiting them once a week for a period of six months. They develop a relationship with the family and encourage positive parenting and school readiness. They encourage the family to explore, reflect and come up with their own solutions. They can offer practical support within the home such as reading to a child. 

Home-Visiting Volunteers are asked to:

• Commit to supporting the family through weekly visits of 2-3 hours for a period of 6 months. 

• Travel to and from volunteers home / meeting place

• Follow up from the visits by completing a Volunteer Visit Record form

• Be a parent or carer or to have experience of working with families or children

You’ll receive free training, so you’ll have the skills to make a long-lasting difference to families who need a helping hand. The benefit on children is long-term; reducing the risk of problems escalating in the future and ensures they have a happy and secure family life.

Home-Start Essex volunteer support families by offering emotional support and guidance as well as help with school readiness. This friendly peer model is a simple yet effective way of enabling families to get back on track.

What skills do I need?

No formal qualifications required as full training will be given. Our family support volunteers all have parenting experience or experience of working with families and children.

Interests

• Children
• Families and Parenting
• Mental Health

Activities

• Supporting People and Befriending