Family Befriending Support Volunteer

Are you a parent, step-parent or foster-parent? Do you have 2-3 hours a week to support a local family? Would you like to gain skills, confidence and experience? Home-Start is a family support charity, supporting parents to give their children the best start in life. Our staff and volunteer support families with young children who may be experiencing challenges such as isolation, financial difficulty or physical or mental health issues. We support any family who needs us, as long as they have at least one child under five. There is no ‘typical’ Home-Start family - our families reflect the diverse communities we serve. We have varied opportunities within volunteering, for example: You could support a family with 2-5 yr olds as they develop their speech & language, gain independence and explore learning & play. You might be interested in supporting a new parent with parenting confidence and building a positive bond with their baby. We have extra training available around attachment and parent-infant mental health if you would like to focus on these aspects of parenting. As a volunteer, we value your parenting experience and empathy, and our families say this is what sets Home-Start support apart - the knowledge that their volunteer is on their side and is there to support them to do the best they can for their children. We'll take your wishes and skills into account when we match you with a family, and we hope that both you and the family you support will benefit from the experience! You'll gain skills and experience, be able to access a wide variety of training, meet other volunteers and have full support from a volunteer coordinator throughout you volunteering. Visit our website to apply online or download an application form, or please give us a call on 0161 344 0669 with any questions, or if you would like a pack sending out by post or email.