Home-Start Epsom, Ewell & Banstead (incl.Mole Valley North)
There for parents when they need us most...
Because childhood can't wait
“Volunteering for Home-Start has been such a rewarding experience. Knowing that spending a couple of hours of my time with a family can make a significant difference to their life is such a satisfying and humbling experience. The great thing about volunteering is that you get so much back from it. Helping others makes you feel good, it gives you the opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and increases your confidence.”
What sort of commitment do I need to make?
It depends on the type of volunteering. Our Home Visiting volunteers participate in a preparation course before supporting families (1 day per week for 5 weeks). This course prepares our volunteers for the varying situations they may encounter and includes information about Home-Start, our Policies, and Safeguarding training.
Following the course (and enhanced DBS/Reference checks), a volunteer needs to commit to 2-3 hours per week for a minimum of one year (We know you’ll go on holidays, etc., and that’s fine – we’re just looking for regular volunteering alongside your current life).
In addition to regular supervision, volunteers attend quarterly group training sessions where they gain skills and meet other volunteers. There is a small amount of monthly admin to be completed. All travel expenses are paid.
We are also always looking for admin and fundraising volunteers to help the charity fun in the background. These roles can be more ad-hoc, as there is not a family expecting the volunteer to visit each week.
For an informal chat to find out more, please contact Tracey Cobb on 07804 519623 or complete the adjacent form and one of our coordinators will be in contact.
Home-Start Epsom, Ewell and Banstead is committed to ensuring that volunteers are supported at all times.
Volunteer Preparation Course
Volunteer courses are run throughout the year. If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer with Home-Start Epsom, Ewell and Banstead please contact us
What does a Home-Start volunteer do?
Home-Start Home Visiting volunteers support a family regularly for 2-3 hours once a week, often in the family’s home. The formula is a simple but effective one – a volunteer, who has parenting experience themselves, offers emotional and practical support which has been discussed and agreed by the family and the HSEEB coordinator.
Some parents might need someone to talk to, encouragement or some reassurance, others might need more practical support. Playing and reading with children, getting out and about in the local area and finding out about local services and activities are all things a volunteer might help with. Our service is flexible and responsive in order to adapt to changing family needs.
Admin volunteers help in the office, uploading files, researching bits, and generally lightening the load for the staff, as we’re all part-time and there are never enough hours to get everything done!
Fundraising volunteering can mean lots of different things – we’re happy for support with planning events, making connections with potential funders and community organisations, someone to rally a group of friends to attend, or even participants in challenge events (fancy a run, a skydive, walking on hot coals, etc.?).
We could also always use one-off or ad-hoc volunteers for things like putting up leaflets in local shops, collecting items from charity partners and bringing them to the office, or even being a spare set of hands and spreading the word at events.
The point is, if you want to get involved, please get in touch and we’ll find the right role for you (following safeguarding and safer recruitment procedure, of course).
Next: Become a Trustee
