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.
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.
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.
No. We ask that all our volunteers have parenting experience and some spare time available to support local families.
The minimum requirement is two hours per week at a time convenient for both yourself and the family.
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.
Yes, we pay out of pocket expenses.
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.
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”
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.
In fact ANY help would be wonderful. Please contact us if there is anything you are able to do for us.
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.