Home-Start volunteers come from all backgrounds and are of various ages. What they all have in common is that they have had experience of bringing up children and have a few hours to spare each week. Our leaflet "Support and Friendship for Families" gives a brief overview of what is involved in volunteering for Home-Start Perth. More details are given below.

 

This varies, but all our volunteers provide emotional as well as practical support to families. Volunteers visit families in their own homes, normally for a couple of hours each week, and may be a listening ear one week and an extra pair of hands the next. Support for the family will last as long as the family and Home-Start feel it is required. Where possible, Home-Start tries to match the skills and experience of the volunteer to the needs of the family. You may be helping a mum with post-natal depression or with a child with special needs or supporting a family with multiple pre-school age children. All our families are unique.

 

Volunteers are not paid to provide support but out of pocket expenses are reimbursed. All potential volunteers undertake a course of preparation and have a criminal records check and references taken up before being matched with a family.

 

You will meet new friends and have lots of fun, develop new skills and experience to add to your c.v but, most importantly, you will be helping families cope with the pressures they are facing and making a real difference to their everyday lives. Read "Armbands in Deep Water" to learn more about what you could gain through helping others.

 

Yes, absolutely! We always need volunteers to support the scheme either as fund-raisers or perhaps by joining our Board of Trustees and getting involved in the management of the scheme. For these roles, you do not need to have parenting experience. Read "We're Asking" to find out more.