Your Volunteering Journey Starts Here!
“The training for Home-Start is amazing, it gave me the confidence and insight into a whole range of other jobs and opportunities. After volunteering for a couple of years, I trained to be a Social Worker, and that’s because of Home-Start.”
“As a retired nurse, I had a lot of experience supporting parents and children. When I retired I wanted to use my professional skills to invest in my local community. It’s just a couple of hours each week, but it makes such a difference to both me, and the families I support.”
Thank you for wanting to find out more about our volunteering opportunities.
Could you give the Gift of Time this year? And help change local childrens’ lives.
For over 30 years, Home-Start volunteers have been changing the lives of families living in communities across Birmingham.
Life can be difficult for so many reasons; poverty, poor mental health, illness and isolation can all affect a parent’s ability to cope. And this is where Home-Start’s home-visiting volunteers step in.
Visiting a family, weekly in their own homes, our trained volunteers offer a mixture of practical and emotional support.
More than anything, our volunteers are there as a regular, friendly face, an extra pair of hands, a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear.
Could this be you?
Hear from some of our current volunteers across Birmingham on why they give their two hours to Home-Start and why they want to support local parents and their children then take a look at our quick guide to becoming a Home-Start volunteer
A quick guide to becoming a Home-Start visiting volunteer
- Parenting or caring experience is advantageous but not essential
- As a Home-Start volunteer you will support a family by visiting them at home for around two to three hours once a week
- You should be able to commit at least one year of your time to Home-Start
- You should have a non-judgmental attitude and understand about the pressures of bringing up a family
- You will have to attend our free Volunteer Preparation Course with other new volunteers before meeting your first family
- Expenses are paid during training and while you support a family
- You must understand that your support for families is completely confidential
- You will have to undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
- You will meet regularly with, and be supported by, a Home-Start Co-ordinator during the time you are visiting families
Watch our film that tells the story of Molly and how her Home-Start volunteer Sybille supported her during one of the most difficult times of her life.
All Six of our Birmingham Home-Starts offer home-visiting volunteer opportunities, however some of our Home-Starts also run a range of groups and projects to support families outside of the home, and have volunteer opportunities at these too. If you’d like to find out more about these, please tick the ‘Other volunteer opportunities’ box on the Enquiry form.
If you would like more information about becoming a volunteer, complete our Volunteer Enquiry form by clicking on the Find out more… button below or call us directly on 0121 572 0800