Family Support Volunteer
Support families with young children
What you’ll do
- Support Families: Connect with families weekly for around two hours, either at home, in public spaces or via the phone.
- Provide Assistance: Offer non-judgmental, confidential support tailored to their needs.
Requirements
- Experience with children (as a parent, grandparent, carer, teacher, early years practitioner or au pair) is essential.
- Good listening skills and a positive attitude are a must.
- Commitment to volunteer with us for a minimum of six months.
Working hours
- Support families between Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM – 4 PM.
- You’ll also have regular check-ins with your Coordinator and share updates on your support through an online journal. Join us and help make a difference!
How you’ll help
Our families often face challenges such as financial difficulties, domestic abuse, housing issues, post-natal depression, multiple births, illnesses, bereavement, disabilities, and loneliness. By visiting them once a week, you will offer consistent emotional and practical support at a time when they need it most. Your support can help them to grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children, and support them to better integrate into their local community.
Here are some examples of the support you could provide:
- Providing tips on practical parenting skills
- Building a supportive relationship with the family in which the challenges of family life can be discussed, and positive strategies encouraged
-
Emotionally supporting and encouraging parents’ strengths and emotional well-being so they can best support their children
-
Encouraging families to widen their network of relationships and to make use of support and services available in the community; such as, by supporting them to attend Children’s Centres
-
Supporting and motivating families to complete much needed tasks, such as completing applications or creating budgeting plans
What you’ll get
In addition to enhanced self-fulfillment and satisfaction, you’ll receive face-to-face training sessions, along with e-learning. This training equips you with the tools and confidence to support local families effectively.
You will be offered further training opportunities throughout your time as a volunteer, including training around domestic abuse, safeguarding, and more.
You will be supported throughout your volunteer journey, including regular contact and supervisions with your Family Coordinator every 6-8 weeks. You’ll also have the chance to connect with other volunteers at social events and meetings; and take part in our Volunteer Involvement Panel to shape the future of our support.
Join us and make a difference while growing personally and professionally!
We provide training for new volunteers throughout the year
This training is necessary for all volunteers looking to support families in their homes.
