Home-Visiting Volunteer
Home-Start Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow
Local families need you! Can you lend a friendly ear and help provide some reassurance? Become a Home Visiting Volunteer and help to make a difference to the lives of parents who are experiencing difficulties. Free home visiting course and training given Find out more at www.homestart-rkh.org.uk
Do you have parenting experience? Are you a good listener, supportive and friendly? Help parents who are experiencing difficulties by visiting them at home for 2-3 hours each week, offering practical and emotional support, reassurance and friendship. We provide a vital lifeline for local families with children under five. At the heart of our local charity are the volunteers who give their time to help other parents who are struggling to cope. They support them to manage their own issues as well as helping their pre-school children to be ready for nursery and school. Issues may include: • Isolation from family and local community • Postnatal illness or depression • Disability of child or parent • Stress caused by low income or housing issues What do Home-Start volunteers do? Home-Start volunteers aim to build the confidence and independence of the family by: • Offering support, friendship, and practical help • Committing to a minimum of 2-3 hours per week home-visiting according to the family’s needs • Visiting families in their own homes, where the dignity and identity of each individual can be respected and protected • Reassuring families that difficulties in bringing up children are not unusual • Emphasising the positive aspects of family life • Developing a relationship with the family providing a regular, reliable presence in that family • Drawing on their own experience of parenting to encourage parents’ strengths and emotional well-being for the ultimate benefit of their own children • Encouraging families to widen their network of relationships and to effectively use the support and services available in the community Last year we helped 277 vulnerable families and 432 children in the boroughs of Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow; most being referred by Health Visitors and other professionals. Our trained volunteers support parents with difficulties such as mental health, family breakdown, domestic abuse, bereavement, disability or a combination of factors that can affect their children’s welfare. To join our team of wonderful volunteers, individuals must complete a preparation Course, one day a week 9.45am-2.30pm for 6 weeks. Our next course is in February 2025 (see information below) and we will run another in the autumn. Upcoming Course Dates: • Start Date: 25th February 2025 • Timings: 9:45 am - 2:30 pm • Location: Beavers Children Centre, Hounslow • Session Dates: 25th February, 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th March, and 1st April (Tuesdays) To find out more visit https://homestart-rkh.org.uk/volunteer/#what_it_takes or email volunteer@homestart-rkh.org.uk
Advice, Information & Support,Befriending, Buddying & Mentoring,Caring,Community Work,Support Work,General & Helping
Basic IT skills - internet & email, Organising & Planning, People Skills
A Home-Start volunteer should: • Be a parent or have relevant experience • Understand why families may need support from Home-Start • Have a knowledge of child development or willingness to undertake training • Have a positive, non-judgemental attitude to working with people of any gender, family status or sexual identity, or who are from any ethnic origin, culture or religion, or who may have a disability • Demonstrate a sensitive and caring attitude towards others • Have a clear understanding of the confidential nature of the Home-Start service, and not to break confidences shared by the family, other than when disclosure is essential in order to protect the wellbeing or safety of a child • Have time and enthusiasm for Home-Start, be reliable and understand the importance of reliability to the family • Have good communication skills including an ability to listen • Have a warm and open personality and a sense of humour • Be able to operate as a member of a team • Be prepared to: o complete the Home-Start preparation training course o attend group support meetings and ongoing or refresher training required by the charity o attend supervision with their co-ordinator every six weeks o keep records as required by the charity Applications from all parts of the community are welcome and a second language can often be very useful.
In return for your commitment, you will receive: • The satisfaction and fulfillment that comes with supporting a family in need • Excellent preparation for your role, through the volunteer preparation course • Formal and informal support from the coordinator, other volunteers, and the trustee board • Opportunities for self-development and ongoing training via the Volunteer Development Programme • Social events and the opportunity to get more involved in the charity if you would like (e.g., fundraising, promotional events, being a trustee) • We will provide a reference after you have volunteered for 6 months • The opportunity to be involved in a vital local service and to be part of a national and global network y
2 hours a week (excluding travel time)
SW14 8LS
Either Kingston, Richmond or Hounslow depending on the course venue and family home address.
The venue for the training in February will be in the Beavers Children Centre, Hounslow. The main Home Start-RKH office is the large office block behind East Sheen war memorial, next to Barnardo's. Train to Mortlake or Bus 33 to Waitrose East Sheen.
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