Home-Start in Gloucesteshire
We're there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can't wait
Become a Home Visiting Volunteer in Gloucestershire
Help Support Local Families Who Are Facing Challenging Times
Who are our volunteers?
Home-Start home-visiting volunteers come from many different backgrounds but all are either parents themselves or have parenting experience.
All volunteers attend a comprehensive preparation course before being linked with families and then they can take their own individual skills and experience to the families they visit. Volunteers visit families because a parent has asked for help. Volunteers offer their time, friendship and acceptance of each familys’ situation.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
You will know that you are making an important contribution to your local community and helping to provide valuable support for ordinary families with young children during the most important early years. Our volunteers consistently talk about the personal satisfaction they get from supporting parents and supporting the scheme.
Being a volunteer can also build your confidence and skills, you can access on-going training and you will be supported in your personal goals wherever we can. Many volunteers find that volunteering is often the first step back into further education or paid employment after a career break. We provide ten hours of initial high-quality training that is well recognized and highly regarded by future employers and sets you up with the confidence and skills to begin visiting families in their own homes. We also provide ongoing training where required to ensure that your skills are kept up to date. After a period of service with us, we will provide references for you. We also reimburse any out of pocket expenses.
Why Home-Start volunteers make a difference
Being a parent, whatever your situation, can be very difficult, especially when children are young. Many parents feel exhausted and overwhelmed by the stresses of family life, particularly if they have little support from family and friends.
For some parents it’s a particular struggle because they are also having to cope with additional issues such as post-natal depression, their own or their child’s illness or disability, social isolation or a multiple birth to name just a few. When a parent is struggling to cope, we support the parents so that the children and family can thrive.
A carefully selected volunteer, who has parenting experience themselves, regularly visits a family, in their own home, offering emotional and practical support through difficult times for as long as it is helpful or needed. This friendly parent-to-parent support is a simple yet effective way of enabling families to get back on track.
And when a family asks us for help, it is a volunteer who makes the difference. Home-Start’s volunteers are a lifeline for families.
Training Programme
You will be trained and supported by skilled Home-Start staff and you could turn a family’s life around. Across all Home-Starts in the UK, amazing volunteers encouraged around 28,000 families last year. But we have many more asking for help.
You will:
- make a difference to parents and children facing difficulties
- give something back to your local community
- perhaps return the support you once received from Home-Start
The benefits to you can include:
- better health and well-being
- improved personal and skills development
- improved chances for work and increased self-confidence
- help preparing to return to work or to progress your career
- doing something amazing with your spare time
Volunteer Preparation Courses are run throughout the year. Please visit your local Home-Start page to find out details of when the next one is.
What our Families say….
‘Home-Start support has made a huge difference to me and my family. The visit from my volunteer is something to look forward to every week and has given my son structure too.
My volunteer has helped me by doing physical activities that I am unable to do such as preparing food. She has provided me with good company, which has helped with my depression and has helped with physical activities and entertainment for my son.’
Rebecca’s message for her volunteer Julie: ‘You were absolutely amazing! You just got it! You understood me and were always willing to do anything, especially knowing that I was too shy to ask for help. You offered me invaluable respite and I can’t thank you enough for your support. My son loved you so much and had the confidence to go out alone with you which was wonderful. Thank you.’
‘I have a volunteer through Home-Start and she is absolutely fabulous. She gets on so well with my son; you can see how much he enjoys having her visit, and she has a lovely way of talking with him and engaging with him in whatever activity he wants to do. She’s also an absolute pleasure to have around the house – she’s happy for me to get on with whatever I need to do (cleaning, work etc.) or to sit and chat with me whilst keeping my little one entertained.
Having a volunteer visit me has helped me feel less alone – I have family and a husband so I’m not physically alone, but in motherhood I feel very trapped and alone and she has helped me feel less so.’
We asked other supported parents about how having a Home-Start volunteer has helped them…
‘It’s encouraged me to get out and have someone to talk to. Been an amazing experience overall – meeting someone to support you whatever. At first I was very hesitant and felt I was a ‘loser’ to seek help. I was so low and down back then. It’s changed my mindset. Gave me the chance to get well again.’
‘My volunteer has given me activity ideas to do with my daughter. She’s been a wonderful help, giving my daughter attention and encouraging me to sit down and play with her. I feel a better bond starting to form between me and my daughter, and I’m realising the importance of taking time out for her.’
‘It’s made a big difference by helping me get out and about in a new area. It has also given me the confidence to go out more often with my twins.’
‘Practically, helping me around the house and looking after my son to give me a break. Someone to talk through when things were difficult and support in making the right decisions for my family.’
‘Sally helped me emotionally. I felt I wasn’t giving the girls enough attention, but I don’t feel guilty about that anymore. We do stuff together – baked cookies, went to Magicland. She is amazing. Without a doubt she helped me come out of this depression. So grateful that I was referred to Home-Start.’
‘Having a volunteer has done me the world of good. It has built up my confidence. I gained a lot from being supported emotionally – I hadn’t expected that. It has been lovely to have company. When I was told about Home-Start, I could not imagine having someone in my home or letting them take my children out, but I see it all differently now.’
‘My volunteer, Ann, has helped me in so many ways, being a mother; so reassuring, and she’s given me loads more confidence making choices I’m more sure about. Whatever I do she is supportive.’
‘It has given me valued time with both my children one-on-one, as I don’t have any support from family locally.’
Volunteer with your nearest Home-Start in Gloucestershire
Click on the icons below to visit your nearest Home-Start in Gloucestershire. The page will open in a new window. Close it to return here.
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