Volunteer
At the heart of our charity are our home-visiting volunteers. We have over 70 volunteers who visit parents at home, giving emotional and practical help. These volunteers must have parenting experience and, before they are matched with a family, go through a training programme and have an enhanced criminal records check.
The trustees, who manage Home-Start Bristol, are also volunteers. They receive special preparation for their role within the charity too.
All areas of volunteering are very rewarding…but don’t take our word for it – read the personal experiences of some of our home-visiting volunteers and of people who volunteer as trustees for Home-Start Bristol.
All our volunteers complete a 9 week / 36 hour volunteer training preparation course before starting to visit families. In addition volunteers can choose to get the course accredited by the Open College Network (OCN) by completing a few written assignments.
If you are interested in joining us for this course and becoming a volunteer for Home-Start Bristol, download our Volunteer Application Form (pdf).
Would You Make a Good Volunteer?
All of our volunteers are parents themselves or have had substantial parenting experience. As such our volunteers understand the challenges of family life.
Our volunteers need to be able to offer 2-3 hours of their time, regularly each week and have some spare time to attend support meetings. We ask that volunteers make a year’s commitment to the scheme.
We will offer you a full training programme so that you feel confident to take on the role of a Home-Start visitor. The training covers such issues as what it is like to visit a family, Confidentiality, Safe-guarding children, Child development and play. If you choose the training can lead to a formal qualification through the Open College Network (OCN).
We feel that it is important for volunteers not to be out of pocket whilst doing voluntary work. We will cover all travelling expenses however unfortunately we are unable to reimburse child-care costs.
Once you have started home-visiting as a volunteer you will be well supported in your role. Trained and professional co-ordinators are on hand to offer support and help with any issues. You will also be invited to attend support meetings where you will have the opportunity to meet other volunteers and discuss issues.
Our volunteers find the experience of supporting a family rewarding. Many volunteers find their confidence in their own skills is boosted and helps them on the path to further education or work.
Volunteer Stories
Volunteers often report a sense of satisfaction gained from being able to make a different to people’s lives.
One volunteer spent two years as a home visiting volunteer and says of her experience: “I have found volunteering for Home-Start very worthwhile, excellent, and inspiring and I’ve really enjoyed it. I have met a variety of people and it always surprises me how much the little we do is so very much appreciated.”
Another, who finished her training in 2008, says: “Over the last year I have found it very rewarding to see the families situation improve. I felt I had been useful and was able to make a difference.”
What Families Say About Volunteers
When Home-Start support is concluded the family is asked to fill out an evaluation form. Here are just a few of the comments made from families in Bristol and South Gloucestershire about the volunteer who supported them:
‘We loved her and our children loved her, she is like another addition to our family. The kids knew what days she was coming and were always excited. It was as great for them as it was for me.’
‘My volunteer was easy to be around and very flexible, happy to help out where she could… very helpful in doing things with my son that I couldn’t do on my own such as go to the shops/library/park or having him entertained while I got some jobs done.’