Family Support Volunteers

We match volunteers to the right family

Volunteers are matched with a family who they visit at their home for a few hours a week. They use their Home-Start training alongside their own unique skills and experience to help local families struggling to cope with the challenges of being a parent.

Our families may be dealing with various difficulties including post-natal depression, isolation, physical and mental health problems, bereavement, financial worries or relationship difficulties.

With your passion for supporting families with young children, you could be the vital support a family needs and make a big difference to their lives.

What is your role

Your role will be to support them in the way that they want; this may include practical tasks such as getting out of the house, getting to appointments or helping them to be more organised. It could also involve offering guidance, sharing experiences or supporting parents through emotional issues by providing a much-needed listening ear.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and generally help by offering emotional support and/or practical help – with the aim of enabling families to lead less stressful and more enjoyable lives and providing a better future for their children.

We provide full training and ongoing support to all our volunteers.

About us Volunteer

Volunteers are usually parents, grandparents or have parenting experience. We also welcome those trying to get into work or further education and needing some firsthand experience of health and social care and childhood development.

No special qualifications are needed, however, understanding the pressures that raising a family can bring, especially to someone in difficult circumstances, is necessary.

Have a warm and open personality with the ability to listen and communicate well.

Have a non-judgmental approach towards people who may view things differently and who may be from different cultures, religion, gender identification, or sexual preferences.

Be reliable, able to respect confidentiality, and able to commit to weekly visits.

Attend our Preparation Course which is held over 5 weeks (1 x 5 hour session per week day time or 7 x 2.5 hour sessions weekly on an evening).

Have a minimum 12-month commitment to the role

There is no “typical family” just as there is no “typical Volunteer”.

What are the benefits of being a Home-Start Family Support Volunteer?

You will gain hands-on experience by working with and supporting families where there may be difficulties around mental or physical health issues, relationships or loneliness and isolation.
You will gain increased knowledge of child development and support services in your area which can help you in your role.
You will gain experience that can help you gain employment, change your career or move into higher education.
Further learning and development opportunities are available, some of which can lead to accredited qualifications.
Regular structured support sessions are given to you on a 1:1 basis by your allocated supporting co-ordinator
New friendships can be formed with other volunteers
A volunteer passport which can be transferable to other volunteering opportunities in Kirklees.
Membership to the Volunteers Forum and access to a volunteer’s newsletter

Most importantly you can enjoy a real sense of doing something worthwhile and being part of your community in a positive way.

About Volunteer now

Initial chat

If you would like to know more please complete the contact form to arrange a telephone call with one of our team.

Home–visit

once we have received your details, we will contact you to arrange a ‘home visit’ with you – we do this as part of our safer recruitment procedure.

References & DBS

references will be sought, and a DBS application completed whilst you attend our preparation training course.

Preparation course

your attendance on our free preparation course will give you an understanding of your role – skills, knowledge and expectations – as a volunteer. Once you have completed the course we will match you with a family.

Ready to join us now!

please complete the Volunteer form

Family Support Volunteers