Has anyone volunteered with Home-Start?

gingin_2

Just wondering if anyone has volunteered with Home-Start and can give me some ideas on how it went.

Thank you

kingfisherblue

I haven't volunteered, but I know two people who did. The first was a single mum of three, a trained nursery nurse who had been out of the workplace for several years. She received training to update her skills and worked with a family who had newborn twins.


My other friend is in her fifties. She had no previous employment experience or training in this area, having worked in retail all her life. Full training was given.


Both are working in other jobs now, but both enjoyed their experience immensely.


From a personal point of view, I applied for help from Homestart fourteen years ago. I was struggling with three children, one who was born with major disabilities. My husband worked long hours for a low wage, and although my mum helped when she could, my dad had just been diagnosed with a type of dementia. I was told that there weren't enough volunteers. I left my details with them, but never heard anything from them after that.

Counting_Pennies_2

I haven't volunteered, but I have received help from them in the past, 4 years ago when my youngest was a baby and I was struggling enormously. I don't think I would have survived without my volunteer.


I am aware they do a form of training, not sure what is involved. Then they match you up with a needy family and you spend two hours a week with them, either taking the children out for a walk or playing with them while mum has a rest, or sitting with mum being a sounding board and generally being there.


I haven't a useful mum but I viewed my volunteer as being my surrogate mum, and when we had to say goodbye to her (you are supposed to not receive support for more than a year, but I managed to keep mine for 2 years) I saw her having fulfilled the role of my mum, and a grandmother and was very sad to say goodbye


hth

busiscoming2

I volunteered but it was 18 years ago and so don't know how different it is now.

I attended a course over some weeks which consisted of understanding the different ways people live and react to various situations, child protection, home safety, depression and bereavement to name a few.

Then you get placed with a family.

hth

waterbaby

I trained as a volunteer in 2011. At that stage I had a 3 year old and a 6 month old, but I was unusual, all the others were grandparent age. There were eight of us I think, maybe ten.

We did 10 evenings (once a week), covering topics such as children's play, postnatal depression and so on. The same branch also does a daytime course at the opposite time of year.

There was a lot of discussing things as a group, sharing views, perspectives and experiences. I found this so enjoyable in its own right, but it was also important for the organisers to understand us as individuals. They are very careful to make appropriate and effective matches between volunteers and families, they don't just put anyone with anyone.

I helped two families, who were then able to leave Homestart help which was nice as it showed that I had helped them to move forward. Both involved me taking the child for a couple of hours to give them some respite, but there are all sorts of reasons for a family needing help. The organisers meet the family and discuss their needs, so they know the needs before they choose which volunteer to match them with.

Different areas seem to operate a bit differently; ours can provide help until the family's youngest child is 5 years old. Only 2 hours a week though, so that the family does not start to rely on the volunteer in a practical sense.

My circumstances changed, and I am now a 'family', not a volunteer. I have had positive experiences on this side of the fence too.

But I will go back to volunteering when I am able to. I have felt very well supported by the organisers, and love that I can make a real difference to someone.