Home-Start East Lothian

Charity registered in Scotland SC030943

Home-Start East Lothian provides volunteer befrienders to support families under stress, who have at least one pre-school child. Families choose to have a volunteer, Home-Start recruits volunteers from all over East Lothian, and look for people who are committed, reliable, confidential, non-judgemental and most importantly have parenting skills. Potential volunteers undergo a preparation course, and after being matched with a family receive support and supervision from the co-ordinator.


Current opportunity

• Attend a 10 week initial training programme • Are matched with a family to support, to give parent to parent support on a one to one basis in the family’s home for about 2-3 hours every week Provide non-judgemental friendship to the family and help them in the areas they need help. For example getting out and about in their community, coping with domestic jobs at home, budgeting, arranging and attending appointments. Supporting Parents mental health and confidence. • Have monthly support and supervision meetings with their coordinator • Keep a diary of the family visits and update the coordinator or how the family is coping and any relevant changes, issues that occur. • Keep up to date with relevant training, in particular Child Protection training annually. • Some volunteers help support our allotment – encouraging families to become involved, use their learnt skills to grow at home along with cooking tips for the produce.