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Everyone needs a bit of help sometimes. Home-Start Kettering Area believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents play the key role in giving their children a good start in life and helping them achieve their full potential. We also believe that the best people to help parents are other parents, who have themselves, experience of bringing up children and are able to provide the kind of support that only another parent who has ‘been there’ can. Our service is provided by a group of trained and supervised parent volunteers who give tailored support to families with at least one child under the age of 11 specific to their individual needs and in their own homes.
Supported By
Volunteers
All our volunteers must be a parent or have parenting experience.
Before being matched to a family, all volunteers must attend a preparation course. This course runs one day a week for 6 – 7 weeks between 10am -2.30pm in term time only and lunch is provided.
Topics discussed on the preparation course include:
- The Role of the Home-Start Volunteer
- How and Why Families are Referred to Home-Start
- ‘Good Enough’ Parenting
- Values and Attitudes
- Child Protection
- Play
- Confidentiality Commitment, Boundaries and Support
The preparation course is very informal and gives volunteers the opportunity to find out more about the project and what their role will be. Our Manager runs the preparation course although we do invite outside speakers such as a Family Support Worker, Health Visitor or a worker from one of the Children’s Centres to lead sessions. We ask that you can commit to at least one years volunteering for Home-Start to ensure the families have continuity.
Volunteers Help By:
- Visiting families at home once a week for 2-3 hours for as long as the family needs them.
- Offering emotional support to help parents find ways of coping.
- Playing with children, listening, reading, having fun together.
- Providing practical help – with budgeting, shopping, cooking and getting to appointments.
- Encouraging parents to get out and about – to family groups and other social activities.
- Helping parents access parenting advice and parenting skills training such as Health Visitors or Children’s Centres.
- A Home-Start Volunteer supports families until they have the confidence to stand on their own two feet again and pass on that confidence to their children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any formal qualifications?
No. We ask that all our volunteers have parenting experience and some spare time available to support local families.
How much time will it take up?
The minimum requirement is two hours per week at a time convenient for both yourself and the family.
Will I receive any training?
Yes, all new volunteers must attend our preparation course, which will equip you with the information you need to get started. We also have a programme of ongoing training for volunteers throughout the year.
Will I get paid expenses?
Yes, we pay out of pocket expenses.
What support will I receive?
Individual telephone and face to face support by your coordinator as and when needed. Volunteers can contact their coordinator at any time to discuss any concerns they may have.
Being a Trustee
We’re asking you to become a trustee.
What kind of people are Home-Start trustees?
Our trustees come from all walks of life, bringing their experience and individual skills to our scheme. The kind of skills that are in demand are business or personnel management, finance and fundraising, IT and communications. But you don’t need special qualifications to be a trustee – common sense, flexibility, time, an ability to work as part of a team, a willingness to learn, understanding of the pressures facing parents today and a genuine interest in supporting parents in your community are just as important to us.
What is a Home-Start trustee?
A Home-Start trustee is a volunteer who sits on the trustee board of a local Home-Start. Each local Home-Start is an independent charity and being a trustee is all about the governance of the charity – planning how it will achieve its goals. Trustees aren’t responsible for the day to day running of a Home-Start but they do carry out a wide range of duties and are responsible for making the charity effective, providing overall direction and the sound management of funds.
What will I get out of it?
Trustees volunteer because they want to be involved in their community and improve the lives of parents and children. What they get back is the satisfaction of knowing that they have helped make a real difference.
What should I do next?
Contact us for more information or an informal chat about being a trustee. There is no commitment at this stage.
Full details on how to apply will be given to you if you decide you would like to help run your local Home-Start.
What other trustees say about Home-Start.
“Even if you think you have nothing to offer you’ll be surprised how much you can contribute as a trustee. If you have a good supply of common sense and a concern for the well-being of families, then there is a role for you. You will learn a lot too”
“I felt my experience and skills were going to waste until I was asked to join Home-Start. Now I feel that both Home-Start and I benefit by me being a trustee”
“Being a trustee is exciting, friendly and never dull! What could be more rewarding than feeling that what you do does make a real difference to families and children? It’s the direct link I can see between my efforts and families in need that makes me stay”
“Being a trustee with Home-Start has provided me with the opportunity to continue using my business skills and experiences in a really rewarding way without sacrificing any of the new lifestyle pleasures that retirement has brought”
Vacancies
Volunteer Recruitment
YOU can make a difference to a family in YOUR community
Our Volunteers play a vital role in releasing the potential of parents, and giving children the best possible start in life. Our dedicated Volunteers are making a real difference to the lives of local children and families.
Further information on our Preparation Course is available by emailing us through the Contact Us button or calling us on 01536 484318 and our Volunteer Leaflet can be found under the Forms and Downloads section.
If you are interested in volunteering with us please complete an application form and email it to us through the website, drop it in or send it in the post.
Get involved
Could you help by:
- Becoming a Volunteer.
- Becoming a Trustee.
- Becoming a Friend of Home-Start (We have a Facebook page, come and find us for all our fundraising news)
- Taking part in our Weekly Lottery (Speak to the office and pick up a form)
- Sponsorship: For example could you fund future Annual Reports, the cost of a volunteer preparation course, advertising, our broadband or maybe rent? Each year we take families for day trips – perhaps you could help pay for a coach?
- Christmas is an expensive time of year for everyone – including us! Can you help with the cost of presents or a party?
- Take part in a sponsored event.
- Setting EasySearch as your default search engine and put Home-Start Kettering Area as your charity of choice. Every time you search money will be donated to us. Simply follow the link on our home page.
- Whenever you buy goods or services online, if you do so through Easyfundraising a substantial donation is made to the charity of your choice. Just choose Home-Start Kettering Area.
- Maybe you could commit to a standing order monthly/quarterly or even annually. Any amount no matter how small will help us.
- If you or your partner work for a large organisation would they be able to help in any way?
- When you write your will have you ever thought of bequeathing a small amount to our charity?
- If you know of any grant making trusts, please pass on the details to us.
In fact ANY help would be wonderful. Please contact us if there is anything you are able to do for us.
Thank you.
Forms and Downloads
You can find all the latest forms and files here.
- Referral Form
Referral form for universal referrals at levels 1, 2 and 3. No referrals with social worker involvement will be accepted. Please call before referring. [Download Word Doc] - Volunteer Application Form
Please complete this volunteer application form if you would like to join our team of volunteers. [Download] - Volunteer Diary Sheets
Volunteers please use this form to record family visits. [Download] Or use this link to complete a weekly Google Doc Form. Google Doc Weekly Visit Form - Volunteer Expenses Form
Volunteers please use this form to record your monthly expenses. [Download] - Insurance Letter
Volunteers, please use this template letter to send to your insurance company. [Download] - Annual Report 2023 – 2024
Annual Report 2023-2024 [Download] - Annual Accounts 2023 – 2024
Annual Accounts 2023-2024 [Download]
- Offering Families Support and Friendship
Information leaflet for families. [Download] - Volunteer, Fundraiser and Trustee Leaflet
Information leaflet for potential volunteers. [Download] - Trustee Application Form
If you are interested in becoming a trustee please call the office and speak to Nikki. [Download] - Trustee Role Description [Download]
- Complaints
Complaints Procedure [Download] - Privacy Leaflet for Families [Download]
- Safeguarding Leaflet for Families [Download]
- Safeguarding Policy [Download]
- Standards & Methods of Practice Download
- Articles of Association Download
- Memorandum Download
- Gift Aid Form Download
Volunteer Form Application
Diary Sheet / Expense Form
Home-Start Kettering are committed to the safeguarding of children and families. A full list of our policies are available to view at our office, including Safeguarding, Code of Conduct, Health and Safety, Confidentiality and Data Protection.