Home-Start Kirklees is a volunteer led charitable organisation committed to the welfare of children and families. We offer emotional and practical support to local families in Kirklees with children from birth up to age 5. We are part of a national network of Home-Start schemes around the UK. Each scheme is run locally, and Home-Start Kirklees has been operating since 1999.

At Home-Start Kirklees, we believe that children should have the best start in life and families will be safe, healthy and resilient - to make that happen we rely on our dedicated and fully trained volunteers. The service we offer is unique and bespoke to the families who need it and includes group support, specialist family support and one-to-one volunteer support.

Home-Start Kirklees’ volunteers and paid staff work alongside families to give support to help people regain the confidence to be the parents that they want to be. The support we provide is non-judgemental, compassionate and confidential. We work with families to build on their strengths and give them the support that they tell us they need.

Our trained volunteers offer weekly support to young families in their own homes or in the local community to help alleviate the challenges and pressures of family life, increasing the family’s capacity to cope, help reduce isolation and build confidence and resilience.

Would you like to make a difference in just a few hours a week? Volunteering can help…

• Enable you to have an impact in your local community
• Support struggling families in Kirklees
• You learn new skills
• Build your confidence and self-esteem
• You meet new people and work as part of a friendly, hard-working team
• Provide a springboard into adult learning or employment

Would you like to help local families with young children?  Are you considering a career working with children? Do you need a volunteer role that is flexible, within your local area and fully supported with training and guidance?

We are looking for family support and group support volunteers to help families struggling with young children.

Our training covers everything you need to know to become a Home-Start Volunteer such as safeguarding, confidentiality, listening skills and why family’s might need support.

After attending our training programme (5 x 5-hour training sessions) you will be matched to support a family living in Kirklees who have children under 5. Together, with full support of Home-Start staff, we will work towards increasing family’s confidence and independence to overcome the challenges that they face.

We run regular volunteer training courses throughout the year at various locations - our next training course will be in Huddersfield and is starting after Easter in April.

You will become part of our team of amazing volunteers who support families in need of help and support. This can be via home visiting, in the community or at one of our peer support groups.

Do you have:

• Parenting experience?
• Or not a parent, but understand the challenges families with young children face either from your own upbringing, wider family unit or profession?
• 2/3 hours a week to offer?
• The desire to help and make a difference?
• A listening ear?

If so, then please get in touch for a confidential and no pressure email or chat to discover more about our opportunities and the next steps to joining our volunteer team.

• Application form required
• References required
• DBS (criminal record check that the organisation will organise)

• 18+

You must be 18 or over