Does anyone volunteer with Homestart? Can you tell me what it entails?

[Miaou]

Something I've always fancied doing but not sure if I can fit it in around the family at the moment. Would love a bit of insight into what you actually do before I contact them directly.

I hope is the same homestart as my group in Scotland....
I had a volunteer who came and gave me a well needed rest 2 hours a week. I went to the doctors, went for a sleep or dropped my daughter to judo.
She looked after my babies of 1.5 years and 3yrs for that time. I think it mostly aslways is with parents with a child under 5 years.

It was a bit awkward at first - I had trouble with not knowing her background but had to leave that to homestart, and to her to disclose any details of herself.

I think they tell you not to get embroiled with others lives by including them in your life...but you may be there to listen to a mum if she is having difficulty. Offer support if he/she needs it. but you have all the professional help in the background if it gets out of your depth.

I had a volunteer , but now go to their mums and toddlers group.

I plan on returning the favour one day and will definitely volunteer myself. So I found out more about it. They give you training and practical advice in a couple of weekend/evening lectures/seminars and you have to get a disclosure for the police to work with children, which they do with you. (Just form filling) Then they match you up with a family in your area.
I hope this helps...

Thanks tartan - I am in Scotland too so your info is very relevant. I've worked with children in the past so been through the disclosure process several times. I do take your point about not getting too involved - good point, especially as I live in a small place!

I think I might have to wait till my kids are older (my youngest is only 7 weeks) because I wouldn't be able to take them with me. However I will definitely contact them in the future.

bump for any more input

I became a volunteer, a couple of years ago. I had to attend a training course that was 6 wks long, one day a week. It was very interesting. Afterwards I was given a family, similar to some of the difficulties that I had experience in. I went to a family for 2 hrs every week, The mother chose what we did, sometimes we just sat and drank tea, other times we all went out - shopping, to the park etc. I also babysat for them so they could have an evening out.

If anyone asked me again, would you become a volunteer - I would say "most definately!"

Its the best gift you can give someone, some of your time and befriending them.

If you have a couple of hrs a week that you have to spare, and honestly thats all you need, I would certainly go for it!

I'm a volunteer and have been for 2 yrs. Just wanted to add that they pay for any petrol costs so you don't end up out of pocket. They also offer 'top up' days where topics such as domestic violence are covered (after the 6 week training) but these are optional. Normal visits should be between 2-4 hrs long.

Thank you - all sounds very positive. I thought the workload would be much heavier than that and would require more time input.

They are looking for volunteers in my area at the minute. I have saw advertisements in the local paper & heard them on the local radio.

It is something I would most definitely be interested in in the future, just not at the minute as am about to start my final year at uni & would be afraid I wouldn't have the time for 100% commitment to both.

Go for it miaou Your help could be invaluable for some mother who i struggling at the minute

miaou I just had a volunteer start last week to help with the little fishes. She comes one afternoon for about 3hrs. She just plays games with one dc while I spend some time wiht the others etc. There is a 10wk training course which is around 2/3hrs a week and has to be done before you are matched with someone.

I meant to add it doesnt seem like much but it meant I got to spend some much needed time with DD1 who just seems to 'get on' with things due to ds being old enough to demand and DD2 being quite clingy.

Oh I'm glad you found it helpful! How does Homestart work then from a user's pov - do you ask for a homestart helper or does your HV reccommend you for help etc ...? I had visions of being asked to go and see someone who was ambivalent/hostile about someone coming into their home but perhaps that's unrealistic.

The HV can recommend, so can social services. Also you can self refer. Normally you only get a volunteer if you really need one, for instance, Homestart won't turn a family away, but they would recommend that perhaps to start off with the family just attends the family group(which is a bit like a mother and toddler group).If Homestart think that your situation changes then they are happy to reaccess.

Families can have a volunteer for all sorts of reasons:
Finding it hard to go out with young children
Illness such as MS
Depression
Children with special needs
Lone parents
the list is endless

Homestart will not put you with a family that does not want a volunteer.(Volunteers are too precious!) It is a voluntary service, not a must!

Should read reassess not reaccess!!!(its late and I have been making DDs creations for her scrapbook party tomorrow!)

I am would be interested in volunteering for Home Start. Does anyone know who I should contact.

Quite often they advertise in the newspaper, Our one runs a course in September, so it maybe worth enquiring, just not sure who to!

What about ringing the HV, they maybe able to give you a number!

if you do a google search or go to homestart page then it will give you details of your local organisation and you should email them to volunteer.

www.home-start.org.uk/