Sally Munday and Fiona Woolhead from the Home-Start UK volunteer team answer your questions. 

Meet Sally and Fiona:

   Sally Munday
   Volunteering Development Manager

   Sally says "Volunteers at Home-Start are quite simply life changing. A volunteer brings    their own experience to help provide confidence, support, guidance, a listening ear and a    friendly face to families when they need it most. They are the heart of Home-Start!"

   Fiona Woolhead
   Volunteering Development Officer

   Fiona says "The impact made by Home-Start volunteers is immeasurable. Our volunteers    provide vital assistance and help to make long-lasting positive change for thousands of    parents and children across the UK. Without them, we simply could not offer the same    level of support"

Sally and Fiona answer your questions:

How many volunteers does Home-Start have and where do they work?

Volunteers are the very heart of Home-Start and the role they play is fundamental to our ability to support families. Every year, Home-Start has around 10,000 volunteers supporting 28,000 families in 180 locations all over the UK.

What does a Home-Start Volunteer do?

There are many ways to volunteer for Home-Start and each and every role makes a difference to the lives of families who need it most.

Home-Visitors are matched with a family and visit regularly to provide practical and emotional support. This could involve anything from looking after baby while mum takes a shower to helping a family get to the shops, or simply being a listening ear. Support is an individual as the families themselves.  

We also have Digital Befriending volunteers, ready to lend a supportive ear to families over the phone or via an online video call.

Volunteers also help at groups that provide a space for families to visit and meet other parents and children who are experiencing similar challenges. 

There are a host of other ‘behind the scenes’ roles too, and we have Home-Start volunteers that support with fundraising, in our charity shops and in offices right across the country.

Each Home-Start also has a dedicated board of trustees who help oversee the fantastic work they do.

Without a combination of all of these volunteer roles, our Home-Starts couldn’t provide the level of service that families need.

What should I expect if I register my interest in volunteering?

Once you have registered your interest to volunteer, you will be matched to your local Home-Start and you should hear from them about volunteer roles and next steps including training. Home-Start volunteer training prepares each volunteer thoroughly, and we know each volunteer brings their unique experience to the role too. Volunteers will get a lot of ongoing support and guidance from their local Home-Start who are always there to empower volunteers to help families in the best way possible. 

Why does volunteering matter?

They say it takes a village to raise a child and Home-Start knows how to build that support around a family to help parents and children thrive. Volunteers provide a non-judgmental listening ear, they assist with practical solutions and help families reach their potential and grow stronger together. Families come to Home-Start for many reasons, including physical or mental health issues, financial challenges, or being far away from family or friends. Whatever the circumstance, Home-Start volunteers can provide the support that makes a huge difference. In the words of Nicola, a mum of two autistic sons "Our lives would be so different without the support; it has been lifesaving".  Read Nicola's full story.

I'm a parent, how do I get a Home-Start volunteer to help me?

The bravest thing to do is to ask for help, so you're already doing well. You'll need to look up your nearest Home-Start and contact them directly to see what support they can offer you. Each Home-Start works slightly differently depending on the needs in their local community.

What is your relationship with Good Morning Britain and 1 Million Minutes?

We are proud to have teamed up with Good Morning Britain throughout December 2022 as one of the charities helping their mission to battle isolation and loneliness in our society. The Cost-of-Living Crisis is only adding to families’ sense of isolation, and Home-Start volunteers are equipped to support families who are experiencing loneliness. Viewers were able to pledge minutes to Home-Start, choosing anything from a one-off 60 minute pledge through to weekly or monthly volunteering roles.

Find out more about Home-Start Volunteers

Register your interest in volunteering