Volunteers provide one to one support to a family in their home with at least one child under five. They visit the family once a week for around 2 hours, The support could be playing with the children, an extra pair of hands when going out, help with cooking, budgeting, the list is long. 97% of our families are referred as mum is struggling with her mental health, many of them with post natal depression. Isolation as no friends or family around. Baby with colic and mum is exhausted with no sleep, child or parent may have an illness or disability, the list is long. As a volunteer, you are going in as a friend. It’s not your job to fix it, but by being there in a supportive non judgemental way, you make it better.

Home-Start Levenmouth are looking for home visiting volunteers to help their work in supporting families in the Levenmouth area with skills such as play, bonding, practical skills and to offer emotional support. As a volunteer, you would be visiting families in their home or in the community on a weekly basis and build a positive relationship with them and the team within Home-Start Levenmouth. Being able to help families thrive is a rewarding role and the service cannot operate without the help of volunteers. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to give back or build on skills and experience and can spare an hour or two a week. Full training will be given with their Preparation course as induction and ongoing training plus support and supervision from our co-ordinators and manager. A PVG check is required for this role.

Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. Many parents need help, friendship, and support when their children are young, perhaps because they are isolated with no family support; struggling with the emotional/physical demands of young children; experiencing post-natal depression; coping with their child's ill health or disability. As a home-visiting volunteer you will be matched with a local family who you will visit at home each week for 2-3 hours. They might be new to the area, have children with additional needs, have health issues, lack confidence. Taking the lead from the family you will support them with what will help them most on the day – getting out & about, going to appointments, help with shopping, talking & listening. By building up a supportive relationship you will help the parents gain confidence and make a difference in the children’s lives.

Volunteers are the heart of Home-Start, and they are looking for kind, compassionate individuals to join the team of Home-Visiting and Group Support Volunteers. WHERE: In your community WHEN At a time that suits you COMMITMENT: 2 hours a week (flexible to your availability) TRAINING PROVIDED: Yes ABOUT: Home-Start Clackmannanshire offers guidance, friendship, and practical support to families across Clackmannanshire with at least one child under twelve. They work with families to help them overcome issues impacting their lives through various family support services. Every family is unique. However, common issues they support include loneliness, mental health difficulties, bereavement, family breakdown, addiction, and physical ill-health. They've been supporting local families across Clackmannanshire since 1988. The Home-Start team (staff, volunteers and trustees) are committed to ensuring that children are given the best possible start in life as #childhoodcantwait. THE ROLE OF HOME-VISITING VOLUNTEERS: They seek individuals with parenting/caring experience to offer practical peer support to local families. Having this life experience and understanding that sometimes family life can be challenging is why volunteer support is so powerful and valuable in supporting other families. Their home-visiting volunteers operate within the family setting – in their homes and supporting them to connect with their local community. Your role will be based on the family's needs. This could involve practical tasks such as helping them to get out of the house and go to a local park, encouraging them to attend appointments, offering guidance in setting household routines, or simply providing a listening ear. Home-Start volunteers aim to build the confidence and independence of their matched family by: • Offering support, friendship, and practical help. • Committing to 2 hours per week home-visiting, according to the family's needs. • Visiting the families in their own homes, where the dignity and identity of everyone 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 where time can be shared and an understanding developed, providing a regular, reliable presence in that family. • Drawing on their own life experiences to encourage parents' strengths and emotional well-being for the ultimate benefit of their children/family. • Encouraging families to widen their network of relationships and to engage with broader support and services available in their community. TRAINING: The home-visiting and group support volunteers must complete a 6–7-week preparation course. This provides an opportunity for you to ask questions and truly understand the importance of your role whilst also giving staff the time to get to know you so they can match you with the right family/group. The training is designed by family practitioners and experts in the industry and covers essential information, including: - The role of a Home-Start volunteer - Values, attitudes, and inclusivity - Confidentiality - Listening and communication - Meeting the needs of families and children - Safeguarding REQUIREMENTS: Volunteers are required to: - Have some form of parenting/caring experience. - Commit to the training programme. - Commit to regular family support/group sessions. - Provide two references (character or professional). - Join the PVG scheme (Home-Start will support this process). Having a criminal conviction does not necessarily exclude you from volunteering with Home-Start. If you are concerned about this, please get in touch). - Understand that support provided to families is entirely confidential. - Have a non-judgemental attitude. - Adhere to their policies and procedures to protect themselves and the families. ONGOING SUPPORT: Each volunteer has a dedicated Family Support Co-ordinator who will be their main point of contact and provide support throughout their volunteering journey. Given the nature of this role, they have a robust preparation course and induction. Chances for ongoing training, development, and social opportunities are provided throughout the year (they have a volunteer calendar of events). Home-Start are also committed to supporting the team to develop, so if a training or learning need/interest arises outside the calendar, they will do their best to help you access it. This is an incredibly rewarding role, and you will have the chance to be part of a vital local service and a global network of Home-Starts. All volunteers are provided with travel expenses. References are available for volunteers. Both the premises and group premises are fully accessible. Please note we cannot guarantee family homes are accessible, but we will take accessibility requirements into account when matching volunteers with a family.