Family Support Volunteer

Across Birmingham Home-Start supports many families who are struggling to cope with life's challenges.

There are many reasons why local families turn to Home-Start for support, including poverty, poor mental health, domestic abuse and isolation. And the aftermath of the Pandemic, and the Cost-of-Living crisis, has seen a significant rise in families turning to Home-Start.

By recruiting and training local volunteers, (who are often parents themselves or have parenting experience), we offer emotional and practical support to families in their own homes, through a network of local volunteers.

We believe that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents play the key role in giving their children the best possible start in life and helping them to achieve their full potential.

We are there for all families across Birmingham with young children.

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Across the city of Birmingham we are looking for local people who can make a real difference to young families living in the same communities as they do.

Our volunteers, (who are all trained by us), are matched to a local family who are struggling with a range of difficulties. They may feel isolated and lonely, (as they have no family nearby), they may be dealing with twins and triplets, or struggling with poor mental health, or children with disabilities.

For two hours a week, our volunteers visit the family that they are matched to, in their own homes, offering a mix of emotional and practical support. It really is simple support that can make life-changing differences to parents and their children.

And it's not just families who benefit from Home-Start support, our volunteers do too! Volunteering helps to improve job prospects for those of working age, and it helps connect people in their community, and improve self confidence for those people who may be retired.

But do not take our word for it!

My Home-Start volunteer is the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. I look forward to Monday mornings, and it's all because that's the day she visits. It's the simple things that make a difference, she helps me with trips to the park, reading to my toddler, and is the mum I wish I had close by.  (Home-Start supported mum)