Family Support Volunteer

Children and Families Volunteers – Hampshire County Council provides vital support to families experiencing challenging or overwhelming circumstances. While many families receive help from friends and relatives, others need additional guidance to navigate difficult periods. Our volunteers work alongside families to offer tailored emotional support, practical assistance and encouragement that helps build stronger, safer and more positive home environments.

By developing trusting relationships and using family support techniques (explained fully during training), volunteers help families work towards sustainable solutions. This support can play an important role in enabling Children’s Services to keep children safely at home wherever possible. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in your local community by sharing your life experience, empathy and communication skills.

Volunteers visit or contact families in their homes or other local settings in Andover, helping to build rapport and provide steady, compassionate support.

As a Family Support Volunteer, you will work closely with families to offer practical and emotional help tailored to their individual circumstances. This may include helping parents develop organisational skills, supporting them to attend appointments or meetings, and encouraging participation in local community activities. Volunteers focus on empowering families, building resilience and helping them progress towards greater independence.

Your role forms part of Hampshire County Council’s wider efforts to help families thrive and ensure children can remain safely at home whenever possible.

• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships
• Good communication and active listening skills
• Respect for differing views and family circumstances
• Ability to support families in finding sustainable, long‑term solutions

• Criminal Record (DBS) check required

• People with restricted mobility

• Supporting families with organisational skills
• Attending appointments or meetings with families
• Helping families access local community activities
• Encouraging independence through practical and emotional guidance

• Expenses
• Ongoing support from Volunteer Coordinators