Ways to volunteer - home visiting

Across the UK, nearly 15,000 volunteers visit families at home each week offering support, friendship, emotional and practical help.

A home-visiting volunteer provides support for a family in the family’s own home, usually spending a couple of hours once a week with the parents and their children.  

You work with each family to help them in the way they need most.  This may be with practical tasks such as escaping from the house, getting to appointments or helping get organised; offering advice and sharing experiences; or supporting parents through emotional issues.

"The best thing about Mandy [my volunteer] is that she gave me the kind of help and support I know my family would give me if they were close."

A mum from Home-Start Edinburgh South Central, Scotland.

All of our home-visiting volunteers must:

• have parenting experience
• commit to our training programme
• undergo an enhanced criminal records check