Grace is a 21-year-old Glasgow University Psychology graduate who has a passion for antenatal mental health and helping families. Her journey with Home-Start started as she became a group volunteer, moving to supporting a family 1:1 in their home and then becoming a Volunteer Co-ordinator at Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire. We caught up with her to find out more about her experience of being a young volunteer and stretching out of her comfort zone.

Where it all started…

“I’d just graduated, I loved my course, but I wanted to get out of the uni bubble and see the real side of Glasgow. I felt like the west side where the university is, isn't a true representation of our world.

I've done volunteering before with children and as much as I've enjoyed that, I really wanted to work with parents as I think they can be overlooked sometimes as support can be focused on the children.

I also did a bit of sociology in first and second year and I loved learning about social inequalities and learning about our social responsibility within that. In my last year I decided to do my dissertation about the lived experiences of asylum-seeking women 
during the perinatal period.

Also focusing on the new Home-Start hub at Mary Hill and how that might bridge some gaps for them to help them better access support. I loved doing that as I got to learn a lot more being with the mums.

After university, I thought ‘OK, where do I want to go with this?’ I found out about Home-Start. I hadn’t heard much about Home-Start or heard of organisations offering this kind of full family support and perinatal mental health support too. I looked into Home-Start more and thought, ‘this is a really cool organisation that I’d love to be a part of, so I became a volunteer.’

On being a young volunteer…

“At first, I found it hard. I think I was the youngest volunteer at Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire. I felt a bit out of my comfort zone because I don’t have children myself, I had the misconception that other volunteers might judge me, which wasn’t the case! I also wondered if the family I was matched with might not want a young volunteer. But what I learned was being able to relate to the families in other ways.

Families can get tunnel vision about their lives so it was great to be able to provide them with another outlook or perspective. It’s having the attitude that I can’t bring lived experience, but what else can I offer?

The process

I did the training, and I thought it was a well-structured course. I met some really interesting people. I found the perinatal mental health side of things very interesting. The trauma informed parenting was the best training I've ever done.

I started off as a group volunteer, I didn’t feel I had the experience to become a home visitor yet. I loved easing into volunteering with Home-Start with the group volunteer role. It meant that I was still meeting families and their children, but I was under supervision which was comforting. 
The group was ending, so the Home-Start team spoke to me about becoming a home volunteer. They reassured me I’d be matched with a family that suited me, and I thought OK. I trust you.

Being a home visitor

“I was matched with a family. I was given lots of information and so were the family, I felt supported and that both parties were involved. I had a few supervisions and felt ready. I was matched with a young mum.

I gained an understanding of how the role wasn’t just entertaining kids or being a babysitter, but offering that holistic support. That’s so much more effective, the early years work is so important. The Home-Start approach of supporting children under five is a very sustainable approach because what the families learn enables them to continue that trajectory throughout the child’s life. It’s not just an intervention and then it stops. I think parents just need someone to listen. 

In terms of the role specifically, you go on your first visit with a Family Co-ordinator. This way, you know what to expect. The family have already had that contact with the co-ordinator so they can help break the ice. Then, you continue to visit every week at a regular time. I don’t have direct contact with the family outside of sessions, so the Family Co-ordinator would check-in and let me know the family were okay with a visit that week. 

I spent most of my time in the living room. I’d catch up with whichever parent was there, talk about our lives and say hello to the children. It was amazing how you can go from small chat to then having bigger conversations. I made sure I asked if there was anything bothering them.
Sometimes we would leave the house and go out to the park or the shops. I would encourage the children to get out even if it’s bad weather. I think I helped them get out of their comfort zone and would always make sure to reinforce the fact that they were doing a great job.

When I left the house, I’d log my time, report any concerns if I had any, go home and switch off. Then do the same next week! I felt like it was my role to just be there, listen and ask. I supported the family for six months.

Nikki, the Manager at Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire got in touch when a new Volunteer Co-ordinator job was available. And that’s what I’m doing now! It’s been a great journey, and I’d love to stick around for as long as I can. 

What I learnt volunteering

Volunteering gave me so much insight that I didn’t know I needed. It honestly taught me a lot of professional skills. Things like time management, logging diaries, presentation of myself, dealing with real life people and sensitive matters.

My university course didn’t offer a placement, so it was first time practising emotional detachment and managing boundaries which were great things to learn. I tried to apply what I learnt from my course. It’s magical seeing a family grow because of your help. 

The biggest thing I learnt was the power of just listening and being. I used to be such a fixer, if I hadn’t fixed a problem, I’d see it as a failure. But the volunteering role taught me that just existing and holding space for somebody is more important and that it does do a lot, even if you don't see it immediately. Volunteering has encouraged me to be more patient with process of helping somebody.

Supporting someone over time isn’t going to be a quick fix. You just need the power of listening more than anything. That’s why I think anyone can be a Home-Start volunteer, you just need to want to listen and be compassionate.

I’ve learnt so much about Home-Start too which put in a good position for starting my working role there. I learnt the massive role Home-Starts across the network play, filling a huge gap in services. The support is vital. It also means families aren’t fearing it in the same way they might fear social services for example. Home-Start is such a respected organisation. The ethos is very special, everyone at Home-Start is lovely and friendly. You don’t get that everywhere. 

My message for aspiring volunteers

Anyone can be a volunteer! Do it! Be inquisitive, take the approach that your supporting people through their lense, rather than your own. Switch the narrative – there’s no right or wrong way. Every family’s situation is different, and you need to be open to that and be a nice, non- judgemental person. Volunteering is great for broadening your experiences and horizons.

I’d love to see more younger volunteers, those who have an interest in supporting families, or a career like social work. Young volunteers are valuable because they are generally, flexible and open-minded beings.