Volunteer for Home-Start
By volunteering just a few hours each week you can transform the lives of young children and their parents in your community.
Be a Home-Start volunteer
By volunteering with Home-Start Croydon you can:
- make a difference
- meet new people
- share your knowledge and skills
- learn new skills
- make connections in your community
- increase your confidence
- have fun
- stay active
- gain pathways to work
For more information about the volunteering roles we have at Home-Start Croydon see below. Alternatively contact us HERE or email Suzie at contact@croydon-homestart.co.uk.
Next training coming soon. Contact us NOW!
Become a Family Support Volunteer or Perinatal Support Volunteer
Family Support Volunteers
Family Support Volunteers support families with children under 5 years on a one-to-one basis, either in the family’s home or in their local community. By meeting with a family for 2-3 hours each week Family Support Volunteers offer emotional support and practical assistance to a family going through a difficult period in their life.
Perinatal Support Volunteers
Perinatal Support Volunteers provide one-to-one support to parents during pregnancy and to up to nine months after the birth. These parents either have mental health issues or are at risk of developing them. Support is provided either in the family’s home or in their local community. By volunteering just 2-3 hours a week you can help a local family to navigate the challenges they face during this difficult period, and support them to access essential resources and build resilience.
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No special qualifications are necessary to become a Family Support Volunteer or Perinatal Support Volunteer, but Home-Start volunteers are usually either parents or grandparents themselves, or people with experience of young children and family life.
We also ask that these volunteers are:
- able to visit a family for 2-3 hours once a week*
- available for supervision every 6 weeks
- able to commit for at least 6 months
- prepared to complete our training course plus some additional training sessions throughout the year
- prepared to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check (DBS) and provide 2 referees
*Most families require support during working hours. Volunteers are able to take a break during the school holidays if required.
We will:
- carefully match volunteers with suitable families
- pay all authorised expenses
- provide initial training and ongoing training opportunities
- provide support and supervision from a dedicated Coordinator
For more information about becoming a Family Support Volunteer get in touch HERE or email Suzie on contact@croydon-homestart.co.uk
We look forward to hearing from you.
Become a Stay & Play Group Volunteer (Parent Champion)
Our Stay & Play Group Volunteers (Parent Champions) help run our stay & play sessions across the borough. By giving just 2-3 hours a week during term time, these volunteers are essential in allowing Home-Start Croydon to provide welcoming spaces for parents to come together and connect with other parents while their children thrive.
No special qualifications are necessary to become a Stay & Play Group Volunteer (Parent Champion), but Home-Start volunteers are usually either parents or grandparents themselves, or people with experience of young children and family life. This role is also ideal for volunteers with their own young children as they are able to bring them to the group.
We also ask that these volunteers are:
- able to attend a group weekly during term time
- available for supervision every 6 weeks
- able to commit for at least one term
- prepared to complete our training course plus some additional training sessions throughout the year
- prepared to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check (DBS) and provide 2 referees
We will:
- pay all authorised expenses
- provide initial training and ongoing training opportunities
- provide support and supervision from a dedicated Stay & Play Group Coordinator
For more information about becoming a Stay & Play Group Volunteer at one of our stay & play sessions get in touch HEREor email Suzie on contact@croydon-homestart.co.uk
You can also download a full role description here.
Volunteer stories
Family Support Volunteer - A
I worked all my life with children and families. When I retired I saw an advert for Home-Start Croydon on Facebook. I thought it would be a way to give back and help others. I wondered if I would be too old for them but I wasn’t. I filled in the forms, got references and did the training. I was set to go.
It was scary at first going into people’s homes “help” them but my first family were lovely. A baby and her mum. Lots of hugs with the baby. They didn’t get fed up of me and looked forward to me coming. I have since had four other families and they were all great. Some mums were glad of the company and have someone to chat to and talk about their children. All mums are doing a great job but no one ever tells them. Everyone needs to be praised for their role as a mum.
I go out with the families to children’s centres and parks. We go to appointments at the doctors or health visitors. Other times to help with the shopping. At home I will look after the children so the mum can catch up with household chores.
I give three hours every week. I enjoy it very much. Three years later I have new friends and many happy memories.
Home-Visiting Volunteer – B
Please see also the story of one of our current volunteers – https://home-startlondon.org/a-volunteer-story/#
Volunteer stories
Stay & Play Group Volunteer (Parent Champion)
I had heard of Home-Start but didn’t know much about them. I saw a poster about volunteering with them at the Children’s Centre so I contacted them and had a chat with Louise, one of the coordinators, about volunteering at a group.
I had been thinking about volunteering but my son was still little so I needed something I could do while I had him with me. Becoming a Home-Start Group volunteer sounded perfect.
I visited my local Home-Start stay & play group to see if I liked it and then I did the training. Louise set me up helping at a weekly stay and play group near where I live, and I was able to bring my son along too. As the group runs in the term time only I’m also free to look after my school aged children in the holidays.
At the group I arrive early and help set up the room and activities. My son loves this as he gets all the space to himself before anyone else arrives. When people arrive I chat to other parents and carers about things going on locally, I also help with the arts and craft activities, and serving refreshments. At the end of the group I help tidy up.
Being a Home-Start Group volunteer fits into my life and I find it fun and rewarding. I’ve met loads of people and its been a great way of meeting local parents with similar aged children and helping my community at the same time.
Training to be a Family Support Volunteer / Perinatal Support Volunteer
Our Support Volunteers complete a training course before being matched with a family. Volunteers will learn about:
- What the roles entail
- Safeguarding children
- Child development
- Listening skills
- Confidentiality
- Boundaries
- Perinatal mental health
- Parent infant relationships
- and much more.
There is also ongoing training on specialist subjects as well as continued support and supervision.
Training runs throughout the year. To find out more contact us or email Suzie on contact@croydon-homestart.co.uk.
Training to be a Stay & Play Group Volunteer (Parent Champion)
Stay & Play Group Volunteers (Parent Champions) attend a short training course where they learn about the role as well as about childcare entitlement and community resources.
There is also ongoing training on specialist subjects as well as continued support and supervision.
Training runs throughout the year. To find out more contact us or email Suzie on contact@croydon-homestart.co.uk
Volunteer testimonials
“It’s amazing how a couple of hours a week can make someone’s day, or week”.
“[Volunteering] has given me a greater insight into the needs of families with young children. It has given me community experience.”
“Volunteering was initially started as a work placement for my degree. I stayed because I enjoyed spending time with the families.”
“Volunteering for Home Start is very rewarding. I love playing with the children and chatting with the parents. It’s great meeting different people from all walks of life.”
Other ways to volunteer for Home-Start
Handyperson Volunteer
Do you have access to a van and basic tools? Do you have a couple of hours a month to spare? Do you want to help families in Croydon?
We are looking for someone to join our team as a Handyperson Volunteer. For full details about the role please see our Handyperson Volunteer Role Description.
If you are interested in this role please get in touch or email Suzie at contact@croydon-homestart.co.uk.
Skilled Office or Home-Based Volunteer
If you would like to donate your time in a different way we also welcome skilled volunteers to work in our office, from home, or in the community doing:
- administration work
- fundraising
- marketing
- social media
- community engagement
- providing specialist training for our volunteers
You may also be able to help in ways we haven’t thought about yet. Whether you can spare some time either as a one off or on a more regular basis and think you can help, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
Trustee
Home-Start Croydon is governed by a committee of volunteer trustees.
Trustees can have a variety of skills and experience from a wide range of backgrounds. No special qualifications are needed but it is important to have:
- good interpersonal skills.
- a practical approach to working with people.
- an understanding of the pressures facing parents and an interest in supporting your local community.
- You may bring a particular expertise to the Board, such as professional skills in finance, IT, business or personnel management or marketing and PR, but equally as important are listening and communication skills, commitment and common sense.
Please get in touch or email Suzie on contact@croydon-homestart.co.uk to find out more if you are interested in becoming a Trustee.