Visiting Volunteer; Family Befriender

Watford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Befriending Social contact Accompanying Support work Advice & Mentoring

Community & family Children Wellbeing Youth

Visiting families in their own home for 2-3 hours per week, offering friendship, practical and emotional support

Description

Are you a mum, dad, grandparent or carer? We need people with your experience for 2—3 hours per week to offer friendship and support to families.

Purpose

Being a parent is hard. Some of us have a fantastic support network of family/friends but some of us don’t. With your knowledge/experience as a parent/grandparent/carer, you could be the support a family needs.

Role

Visiting families in their own home for 2-3 hours per week, offering friendship, emotional and practical support.

Types of support may include:

• Having a cup of tea together, allowing Mum or Dad to chat about their week
• Going for a walk together to give the parent and baby/toddler some fresh air and exercise
• Encourage parents to find ways to manage and resolve challenges, such as budgeting or meal planning
• Give them confidence to make some new friends by accompanying them to a parent and toddler group
• Playing with the children in the home to support and enable Mum to prepare healthy meals or clear some washing
• Share your experience and knowledge with the parent in areas they may be finding difficult, such as routines or supporting their children with their learning and development
• Empowering them to access other support services such as their local Family centre, Libraries, other charities and organisations.

Full training will be given, and you will be supported every step of the way with your allocated Family Support Coordinator.

Please note that that the support is to be undertaken during the working day ie; between 9 and 5, Monday - Friday. Unfortunately we are not able to offer evening or weekend work at this time.

We support families with at least one child under the age of 5. Being a new parent can be very hard and challenging and we are very aware that childhood cant wait. Families are matched with a volunteer who supports them for 6 months by visiting them once a week.