If you have a heart for getting alongside families who are struggling within your community, then becoming a family friend with Safe Families may be just the opportunity you have been looking for. Being a family friend with Safe Families is a brilliant way to get to know families in your community who need a bit of extra support and encouragement. Safe Families works across all of Midlothian, is a UK wide Christian charity and seeks to provide early intervention to the lives of struggling families in order to reduce any statutory service input. We provide full training and support for all of our volunteers and give them the chance to get alongside local people, helping them to strengthen their family life by befriending them, supporting them to be less isolated and to perhaps help them through a time of crisis. Volunteering opportunities can be flexible around the needs of the family and the volunteer so that they suit both parties. Being a family friend involves spending time with a child and/or a parent on a regular basis, having fun and giving support.

Do you have the capacity and the heart to host children in your home overnight in order to support and help their family situation? If so, volunteering with Safe Families could be for you. Becoming a Host Family with Safe Families is an amazing gift to local families in your community who are struggling to manage life for whatever reason. Safe Families works across all of Midlothian, is a UK wide Christian charity and seeks to provide early intervention to the lives of struggling families in order to reduce any statutory service input. We provide full training and support for all our volunteers, who come from all walks of life, and give them the chance to get alongside local people, helping to strengthen their family life by supporting them through a time of crisis. Volunteering opportunities can be flexible around the needs of the family and the volunteer so that they suit both parties. Hosting involves caring for children from a local family in your home overnight for a fixed length of time – either a few nights in a row or on a regular basis, a night at a time.

Our Family Friends bring hope and belonging to families who are isolated, enabling the families to be more connected into communities and support networks. Once approved, volunteers usually meet a family on a regular basis for a few months. They might, for example, look after a child who has been referred to us and invest time with them by taking them out to do fun activities, or meet up with parents to go to the shops, go out for a walk, or help with paperwork, but above all else take time to listen and support. If volunteers have a spare room, they may be able to become Host Families and host during the day or overnight. Host Families open their homes to look after children from a night or two up to a couple of weeks. This can give space to families dealing with challenges. We also have Resource Friends who may do some painting, joinery, gardening, or anything practical that will help a family out. At Safe Families we believe that no one should feel alone, and we exist to create relationship and connection offering hope, belonging and support to children, families, and care leavers. Facing life alone is hard and when families feel like there is no one there to help, it is a scary place to be. We connect children, young people and families with volunteers who can offer them compassion, plus helping them to connect in to support networks.

At Safe Families we believe that no one should feel alone, and we exist to create relationship and connection offering hope, belonging and support to children, families, and care leavers. Facing life alone is hard and when families feel like there is no one there to help, it is a scary place to be. We connect children, young people and families with volunteers who can offer them compassion, plus helping them to connect in to support networks. Our Resource Friends may do some painting, joinery, gardening, or anything practical that will help a family out. They may be able to provide or contribute towards items which a family would need and appreciate such as clothing, baby/child equipment or appliances.