Home-Start South Worcestershire
Help Local Families
The local charity Home-Start South Worcestershire is asking parents to volunteer and share their life skills and experience with families who are finding life tough. Established in this area for over 35 years, Home-Start offers weekly home visits from an experienced parent befriending volunteer, to help lighten the load for stressed mums and dads.
‘Someone to lend a hand, someone to listen, someone to share some of the daily ups and downs of parenting just for a couple of hours once a week, can make a vital difference to parents who are finding life tough through illness, disability, financial or housing pressures, loneliness or relationship breakdown’ says Jess Bird, the local charity organiser who is based in Malvern.
‘Volunteers play with children, help families go to the park, shop, get through life admin, and sometimes just have fun. We work hard to match each family with a suitable volunteer local to them, and provide training, support and travel expenses for all our befriending volunteers.’
‘Our volunteers tell us they find the role rewarding and interesting, so call us today and find out how you can join in. You may have skills to share such as budgeting, cooking and meal planning, or writing a CV, or you may simply remember how challenging early parenthood can be, and want to help. Please use your parenting experience to help someone else rediscover the joy in family life.’
There are regular New Volunteer meetings in Worcester and Malvern, where you can find out more. You are very welcome to come along to meet the team and take the next step towards helping a local family. The next date is on Thursday 30th November in Malvern at the Home-Start office at 52 Prospect Close. The office is open from 10am to 3pm and then 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Home-Start staff will be available to answer your questions, so drop in any time convenient to you for a cup of tea and a short informal chat.
If you are interested in finding out more, please call (01905) 29377 or email enquiries@home-startsw.org.uk. All Home-Start volunteers are helped to undertake DBS checks and provide references - travel expenses are paid for the weekly family visit.
You can read more on the local Home-Start website which is
www.home-startsw.org.uk, the national site is www.home-start.org.uk