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.

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 GROUP SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS: Home-Start understand that entering a family's home may seem daunting for some people. If you want to engage with multiple families at a time who have children under 5, our group provision is the perfect setting for you! Our groups operate across three locations in Clackmannanshire – Tullibody, Alloa and Tillicoultry, aiming to provide families support, friendship, and fun. As a group volunteer, your role would include tasks such as: - Setting up/Clearing away play equipment. - Encouraging play/supporting an activity such as arts and crafts or messy play. - Offering support/conversation to parents/carers in attendance. - Supporting our Group Workers with the general running of the sessions. - Preparing snacks (food hygiene training available for volunteers keen to support snack preparation). TRAINING: The 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.

Would you like to contribute to the vital supports in place for local families to thrive in Clackmannanshire? Home-Start Clackmannanshire are looking for a dynamic individual with financial management experience to join their board of trustees as a treasurer. ABOUT THEM: Home-Start offers guidance, friendship and practical support to families across Clackmannanshire who have at least one child under the age of twelve. They work with families to help them overcome issues impacting their lives, through a range of family support services. Their families are each unique, however common issues Home-Start supports include: isolation and 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 THEIR TRUSTEES: Charity trustees are responsible – and accountable - for the governance and strategy of their charity. They are responsible for making sure that their charity is administered effectively and can account for its activities and outcomes. AS A TRUSTEE ON THEIR BOARD, YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO: 1. Providing leadership and direction within the ethos of Home-Start. 2. Ensuring the scheme has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction. 3. Being responsible for the effective performance and management of the scheme. 4. Ensuring the scheme complies with legal and regulatory requirements, the objects of the scheme, the governing documents including the Home-Start Standards and Methods of Practice, the Home-Start Agreement and quality standards. 5. Securing and guarding the scheme’s assets and taking care of their security, deployment, and proper application. 6. Ensuring that the scheme’s governance is of the highest possible standard. 7. Undertaking an ambassadorial role for the scheme. 8. Appointing sub-committees and agreeing their terms of reference and membership. AS TREASURER: As treasurer, you will have oversight of their accounts, and the financial controls system. You will also provide guidance on finance matters to the Trustees. You would be supported by the CEO and administrator in all of this. Their turnover is growing year on year, to ensure they can continue to meet ever increasing local need. Funding is made up of a mixture of local authority funding, trusts and foundations, corporate donors and fundraising efforts, and income from the charity shop. However, with a difficult funding landscape, Home-Start are looking for a treasurer to work with the CEO and fellow trustees to safeguard the smooth running of our charity finances. YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD INCLUDE: · Maintaining an overview of the charity’s finances. · Working with other trustees and staff to ensure our financial viability. · Checking that procedures are followed, and financial records are maintained. TIME COMMITMENT: Their board meets every 6 weeks, a blended approach of in-person meetings at the offices in Alloa and Zoom meetings. Home-Start's offices are fully accessible. As treasurer, you would also attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) once a year and provide a summary of the Charity's financial situation at this meeting. SUPPORT: Volunteers are the heart of Home-Start, and so in return for your time and commitment, you will be fully supported in role by the Chair. A full induction will be provided, and opportunities for both training and networking are also available. *All reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.* FIND OUT MORE: If you have skills and experience in financial management, they’d love to hear from you. You might be an accountant, or have general financial skills and knowledge developed through working in the public, private, or third sectors, or through volunteering. To find out more about their treasurer role, please contact homestart@hsclacks.co.uk or call the office on 01259 213 453.

Home-Start Clackmannanshire are looking for volunteers to support the operation of our Charity shop on Alloa High Street. Whether you are keen to be front of house serving customers, have an interest in supporting us with sorting donations, or merchandising and promoting our stock, they have a role for you! ABOUT: Home-Start Clackmannanshire offers guidance, friendship and practical support to families across Clackmannanshire who have at least one child under the age of twelve. They work with families to help them overcome issues impacting their lives, through a range of family support services. Their families are each unique, however common issues they support include: isolation and 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. In addition to providing these direct family services, they have a thriving Chairty Shop on Alloa High Street, selling pre-loved items ranging from prams and clothes to toys and bric a brac. Home-Start have two members of part time staff who run the shop along with their incredible team of volunteers, which they are looking to expand. THE ROLE OF SHOP VOLUNTEERS: Their volunteers operate alongside staff members to ensure the smooth and successful running of the shop. Home-Start works with volunteers to find the right role for them within the shop. They have volunteers who love engaging with customers, and making window displays. Other volunteers prefer to be behind the scenes sorting donations, or pricing items. TASKS FOR VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE: - Welcoming customers - Operating the till and card machine to process sales - Sorting donations - Readying stock for the shop floor – steaming, pricing, labelling clothes hangers, steaming etc. - Visual Merchandising – creating displays in the window and on the shop floor - Replenishing stock - Photographing stock for sale on the Facebook page AS A VOLUNTEER YOU WILL: The group are looking for volunteers who are able to work well within a team, and have a positive, inclusive manner when working with the public. Retail experience would be beneficial but isn’t a requirement. Home-Start Clackmannanshire require a minimum of 2 hours availability and commitment across the week, although will be flexible where possible. They are in particular need of volunteers to support them in extending their opening hours to a Saturday. SUPPORT PROVIDED: After an initial chat and taster session, each volunteer will complete a full induction programme. This provides an overview of Home-Start Clackmannanshire, covers health and safety, procedures etc. and focuses on tasks associated with your agreed role. Home-Start have a wider package of training available to all volunteers, including Retail Skills, Manual Handling, First Aid, SQA in Volunteering Skills and more. For younger volunteers (aged 12-25), they are also registered with Saltire Awards to provide recognition of your volunteering hours. The Retail Supervisor is the day to day contact for volunteers, but Home-Start Clackmannanshire's Enterprise and Development Manager is also contactable, and will lead on training. ALL VOLUNTEERS ARE PROVIDED WITH: - Uniform (polo shirt and hoodie) - Travel expenses - Social opportunities - Refreshments (if volunteering over 4 hours, lunch will be provided) Please note that the premises is fully accessible. **Compatible with Saltire and Duke of Edinburgh Awards.** FIND OUT MORE: If you would like to get involved, or to find out more about our volunteering roles at the shop, please contact Sarah@hsclacks.co.uk or call the shop on 07936 366 810.