Volunteer for Home-Start and make a difference to a family in your community. By volunteering for Home-Start, sharing your knowledge and experience, you can transform the lives of young children and their parents in your community.

If  you want to get involved but have a question, the answer may be here.

Q: What is Home-Start?

A: Home-Start is a national charity with a community network of 10,000 trained volunteers, supporting around 78,000 children and 43,000 families a year in 180 local Home-Starts across the UK.

We recruit and train volunteers to help families with young children. Home-Start's team of trained volunteers make sure a child’s early years count. By volunteering just a few hours each week you can transform the lives of young children and their parents in your community.

Volunteers can offer their support through volunteering as a:

• Home-Visitor volunteer
• Family Group Volunteer
• Online Family Support
• Trustee
• Home-Start Supporter
• Office volunteer
• and more! 

Home-Start volunteer roles

Q: What kind of families would I be helping?

A: All kinds of families can find it hard to cope, for all sorts of reasons. Maybe they need support because of the illness or disability of a child, or because of a parent’s post-natal illness, bereavement or loneliness. Whatever the reason they come to Home-Start families are offered non-judgemental, confidential support.

The families that we work with, like our volunteers, come from all walks of life.

Through your training the Home-Start team will get to know you and will match you with a family where they think you will be able to make the most difference. You may share a similar experience, you may come from a similar background, or they may think that you would just be the perfect match. 

Q: Can my support and friendship really make a difference?

A: Absolutely!

All parents know that those early years before school are vital in a child’s life and at Home-Start we believe parents have the key role in creating a secure childhood for their children. It’s just that sometimes they need a bit of help...your help.

Ways you can help

Q: Do I need any qualifications to be a volunteer?

A: It depends on the role. Mostly what we look for is friendliness and a caring attitude, as well as an understanding of the pressures of parenting. We value people who don’t judge others and who will treat a mother or father as an equal.

We also offer training and support throughout your time with us.

Q: Do volunteers get any training?

A: We are very proud of the training and support we provide for our volunteers. We invest in our volunteers from day one, ensuring they are supported by a paid member of staff throughout their time volunteering with us.

All of our volunteer roles will provide some training.

Volunteer roles and training  

Q: What would I get out of volunteering for Home-Start?

A: We know that volunteering with us can also have a huge impact on our volunteer's lives. Our research tells us that our volunteers have:

• better health and wellbeing
• improved personal and skills development
• improved chances for work
• and more self-confidence

Q: Can I volunteer remotely?

A: Yes. As well as traditional home-visiting roles, many local Home-Starts are developing opportunities for online family support for families in their local area. 

Register your interest