Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Home start Volunteer

18 replies

Hello1290 · 26/08/2018 20:01

Is anyone a Home start Volunteer and if so did it lead on to any paid work in social care ? The training course looks interesting and I think I would enjoy supporting families. I don't have any qualifications in health and social care so I'm interested to hear if experience in supporting families but not having a NVQ etc.. has lead to paid employment for anyone.

OP posts:
stargazer2030 · 26/08/2018 20:41

I don't think Homestart exist anymore. I think they lost their funding fairly recently. I may be wrong though if someone has more recent knowledge?

Original poster
Hello1290 · 26/08/2018 21:36

They definitely do in my local area but maybe others have closed. As they are a charity I suppose they need to raise funds to keep running.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hello1290 · 26/08/2018 21:42

Pressed too soon meant to add....

so like you mentioned they must have lost theirs. It's a real shame as they give practical and emotional support to families with children under 5 years old.

OP posts:
Stranged · 26/08/2018 21:48

I did the volunteer course in 2011. Towards the end of the course (before I even had a chance to volunteer!) a paid job as a family support administrator came up. The people running the training course encouraged me to apply for it. I was absolutely convinced I was wasting everyone’s time as I had no relevant qualifications and had been a sahm for 15 years at that point. Got the job and loved it.

Good luck op.

Stranged · 26/08/2018 21:49

They have lost a lot of funding and some schemes have been streamlined. The one I worked for is still going but has less staff.

Velvetbee · 26/08/2018 22:06

Ours is alive and kicking. I did the course in 2014 I think, it was fascinating and very thorough. I currently do a bit of nannying for a previous HS family.
It’s a brilliantly simple way to support families and I’ve loved meeting all my different families.

Original poster
Hello1290 · 26/08/2018 22:09

That was so lucky Strange. They must have been very impressed with you and valued your experience as a sahm.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hello1290 · 26/08/2018 22:11

Thanks velvet - I think I would enjoy it. Was it what you expected it to be?

OP posts:
BretonStripe · 26/08/2018 22:17

I've been a Bookstart Corner volunteer for our local Children's Centre for a couple of years, and have recently been trained up to be a Parent Group Leader (to facilitate EPEC parenting courses).

I'm hoping it leads to paid employment at some point Smile

SadVillageGirl · 26/08/2018 22:17

No longer, but I had a Homestart volunteer in 2002 when my dd were 8 months and 2 years. Had the volunteer for 4 years. I then worked there for 9 years!! I started with health and social care level 3 then went on to do a foundation degree in child and adolescent studies and a BA Hons in Early Years. I then went self employed as a freelance working in children's centres running groups and courses.

onetimeposter · 26/08/2018 22:20

Ive been waiting 2.5 yrs for a homestart volunteer. Please do it!
And yes I believe it is a step into all kinds of support worker roles, you could even go to nhs for nursery nurse or supporting women roles.
Its a very respectable kind of volunteering.

Original poster
Hello1290 · 26/08/2018 22:32

That's handy to know Breton I love reading books to children - best of luck I hope something turns up for you.

Sad - you must have really enjoyed it to then go on and gain all those qualifications! It wouldn't be possible for me to do a degree but a level 3 may be doable.

One-time - such a shame you haven't been able to get a volunteer.

All these posts have been really motivating - Thanks

OP posts:
BretonStripe · 26/08/2018 22:39

Would highly recommend becoming a Bookstart Corner volunteer if your children's centre is looking for one. It's so lovely to meet families and encourage and support them/their children to develop a love of books and stories.

Original poster
Hello1290 · 26/08/2018 22:42

Breton - do you read to the children or is it more showing and helping to choose suitable books ?

OP posts:
BretonStripe · 26/08/2018 23:35

I visit a family for between 30-45 mins per week, for six weeks. It is a programme so every week is something different; rhymes, books, singing, finger puppets and mark making etc we gift something from the pack each week. So a Dear Zoo flap book one week, a finger puppet the next.

It's fairly child-led but yes most like to be read to (some of them have parents with low literacy levels or no confidence, maybe low mood etc). Our role is to role model so that hopefully Mum or Dad will copy and start to find more time to read to their child. It's really rewarding Smile

BretonStripe · 26/08/2018 23:37

P.s at the end of the six weeks, if the family want, we meet in the library and I show them around and help them sign up if necessary. Some parents have never stepped foot in a library as an adult and are pleasantly surprised when they see it's no longer strict silence, and now lots of fun for children.

dontblameme · 26/08/2018 23:48

I've been a HS volunteer for 5 years, some of my fellow volunteers are health/social care students who want to gain more experience. HS staff have often started out as volunteers.

Original poster
Hello1290 · 27/08/2018 08:58

Thanks for the insight Breton. Bookstart is really starting to appeal so possibly something else for me to think about.

Don't - yes I guess it's a good way to gain experience of working with families and to see if you enjoy it.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread