Volunteering

GroupVolunteering with us is exciting, rewarding work.

It requires energy, commitment, reliability, creativity - and a sense of humour! There are two main capacities in which you can volunteer with us: as a Home-Visiting Volunteer or to be part of our Board of Trustees.

Home-visiting

We need people from all ages, backgrounds and genders! No qualifications are necessary - just listening skills, understanding, discretion, commitment to the families you visit and a willingness to share your (parenting) life experience.

We ask our home-visiting volunteers to commit between two and three hours per week to visit a family. These visits are arranged for a mutually convenient time Monday to Friday - or weekends if both parties would prefer.

Training

All volunteers are provided with access to The Learning Centre, our online learning platform, which offers a wide range of relevant courses. New volunteers also attend a one-day, in‑person training session. In addition, volunteers can take part in wellbeing sessions and access further training aligned with the needs of the families they support.

Family on couchSafeguarding Checks

We often work with very vulnerable families. It is therefore essential that all volunteers within our scheme are thoroughly vetted. All volunteers, Home-Visitors and Trustees, must be members or willing to join the Scotland Disclosure PVG scheme - as well as giving two personal references.

Expenses

Volunteers are fully reimbursed for all out of pocket expenses (including travel) that are incurred whilst on Home-Start business.

How do I become a Home-visiting Volunteer?

Across the UK thousands of Home-Start volunteers visit families at home each week, supporting parents/carers in situations as diverse as isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness, disability or who are just finding parenting a struggle. They provide non-judgemental practical and emotional support and help build the family’s confidence and ability to cope. Home-Start runs more services and has more volunteers supporting more families than any other family support charity in the UK.

All Home-Start schemes are supported by Home-Start UK, which provides training for staff, volunteers and trustees, information and guidance on governance, legal and human resources issues and help with fundraising and communications.

A quick guide to becoming a Home-Start Home-Visiting Volunteer:

  • You can commit 2-3 hours of your time once a week
  • You should be able to commit at least six months of your time to Home-Start
  • You should have a non-judgemental attitude and understand about the pressures of bringing up a family
  • You should enjoy meeting new people and spending time with adults and children
  • You can commit to attending our free Volunteer Training Course (c. 15 hours over several days or via our online training portal) before meeting your first family
  • You can expect to be reimbursed travel expenses during training and while you support a family
  • You must understand that your support for families is completely confidential
  • You will have to become a member of the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme (paid for by Home-Start Lomond)
  • You will be supported by your local Home-Start scheme Coordinators during the time you are visiting families

Click here to download our Volunteer Application Form »

Completed Application Forms should be emailed to: admin@homestartlomond.org.uk