Home-Start CHAMS is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times.  We help parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence, and build better lives for their children.  There’s no judgement, it is just compassionate, confidential help and expert support from one parent to another.

Our volunteers are all parents themselves or have parenting experience. This means they understand that sometimes family life can be tough and that is why their peer-to-peer support makes such a difference. Volunteers are central to the Home-Start service; we could not offer families the same support without them.

Not everyone is cut out to be a Home-Start volunteer – it requires a high level of commitment and reliability – but in return they get high quality preparation, ongoing training, supervision and support from their Home-Start Coordinator.

What do Home-Start volunteers do?

 Home-Start volunteers aim to build the confidence and independence of a family by:

• Offering support, friendship and practical help.
• Committing to weekly support – via home visiting, walk and talk, telephone or video link with a family as restrictions allow.
• Protecting and respecting the dignity and identity of each individual.
• 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.
• Encouraging families to widen their network of relationships and to effectively use the support and services available in the community.
• Drawing on their own experience of parenting to encourage parents’ strengths and emotional well-being for the ultimate benefit of their children.

What is the time commitment?

In addition to weekly family contact (approx. 1.5-2 hours per week)

• Attending the initial course of preparation
• Attending supervision sessions with the Coordinator, according to Home-Start guidance, every 6 – 8 weeks
• Attending ongoing training sessions
• A commitment of 1 year to the charity (minimum)

 What are the responsibilities of a Home-Start volunteer?

We ask all our volunteers to:

• Commit to the Home-Start ethos and to understand and implement Home-Start’s policies on:
• Confidentiality
• Equality, fairness and diversity
• Safeguarding and protecting children
• Data protection
• Undertake all sessions of the preparation course, provide two suitable references, and complete a DBS check at enhanced level.
• Sign their acceptance and understanding of the Home-Start Safeguarding and Protecting Children Code of Conduct.
• Support a family regularly and to work towards identified objectives of support, as agreed with the family and Coordinator.
• Share information with the Co-ordinator and contact the scheme immediately if there is concern about the physical or emotional well-being of any member of the family.
• Ensure that the child’s needs and experience are at the centre of their working and to act on concerns about their welfare.
• Keep records of contacts with families and submit monthly diary sheets and expenses.
• Attend regular 1:1 supervision session, according to Home-Start guidance
• Attend ongoing support and training sessions as arranged by the scheme
• Submit travel and telephone expenses monthly, which will be paid at the agreed rate by the trustee board.
• If applicable – Inform their insurance company that their car is being used for voluntary work with Home-Start for which expenses are paid, and provide Home-Start with sight of their relevant tax, MOT and insurance cover for the car as requested

What will Home-Start do for me?

 In return for your hard work and commitment, you will receive:

• Excellent preparation for your role, through the Home-Start CHAMS preparation course.
• Formal and informal support from the Co-ordinator, admin team, other volunteers and the trustee board.
• Regular opportunities for further development and ongoing training.
• The opportunity to get more involved in the scheme if you would like (e.g. fundraising, promotional events, being a trustee)
• A reference after you’ve volunteered for 12 months.
• The opportunity to be involved in a vital local service and to be part of a national and global network

This is exciting and rewarding voluntary work which requires energy, commitment, reliability, creativity and a truly non-judgmental attitude. If you have these skills and want to help a family who are struggling in your local community, we want to hear from you!

For more information please ring Home-Start CHAMS on 01293 416327

Email info@homestartCHAMS.org.uk                         Web   www.homestartCHAMS.org.uk