The role of a Home-Start Kennet Volunteer
Home-Start Kennet is a voluntary organisation in which volunteers offer regular support, friendship and practical help to young families under stress in their own homes helping to prevent family crisis or breakdown. Volunteers, who all have parenting skills or relevant life experience, understand that sometimes family life can be tough and that is why their support can be so valuable in helping another family. Volunteers are central to the Home-Start Kennet service; we could not offer families the same support without them.
Home-Start Kennet volunteers give a high level of commitment and reliability and in return, receive high quality preparation and on-going training, supervision and support from the Home-Start Kennet Organisers.
What do Home-Start Kennet Volunteers do?
Home-Start Kennet 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 the 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 in which time can be shared and an understanding developed, providing a regular, reliable presence in that family
- Drawing on their own parenting or life experiences 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 use effectively the support and services available in the community
If you are interested, we run a volunteer preparation course twice a year. It runs over 7 weeks, one day a week usually. If you are interested and would like to know more please get in touch.