Home-Start Guildford

Home-Start Guildford is looking for a Digital / Office Volunteer. If your interests and skills lie in social media or are office based, we are always happy to welcome anyone who has regular availability to volunteer, or who can offer ad hoc one off sessions.

As a digital / office volunteer you will have the opportunity to: 

• A chance to learn new skills
• Skills and experience to add to your CV
• Share and develop your knowledge, skills and networks 
• Be part of the wider Home-Start movement in Surrey 

Training and Support:

Volunteers are the heart of Home-Start Guildford. In joining our dedicated and friendly team, you will:

• receive a full induction
• meet other likeminded people
• meet regularly with, and be supported by, one of our members of staff
• have access to training activities including specialist speakers
• be invited to volunteer social events (including a free Christmas Lunch event)
• receive regular updates and newsletters
• be able to claim travel expenses when visiting a family

All our volunteers are required to sign the Safeguarding and Protecting Children Code of Conduct, which is introduced to volunteers as part of their induction and indicates that they fully understand and are committed to Home-Start’s Policy and procedures for Safeguarding and Protecting Children.

All volunteers are also required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring check, at a level relevant to the position.

What does the time commitment look like?

We are grateful for any time you can spare, whether this is a few hours on a regular basis, one day a week or just an agreed amount of time for a set project. Our offices are open 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, however as our staff follow a hybrid working pattern, there are occasions when the office is unmanned.

Depending on the type of role you do, once you have completed your induction, you may be able to do some of your volunteering working from home.

Visit our website for more information: www.hsguildford.org.uk

"There for parents when they need us most, because childhood can't wait"

Parents Supporting Other Parents - a simple idea that really works!

Home-Start Guildford has been supporting local families across the Guildford Borough for over 25 years. 

We're a non-judgemental organisations that helps local parents who are struggling, for any reason. Some of those reasons may include; multiple births, mental health, an abusive partner, isolation, mental or physical handicap, or the pressure that loss of employment brings to a family.

What we do

Our charity provides a preventative service that aims to support families who are struggling by offering regular volunteer support to parents with at least one child under the age of 5, usually referred to us by Health Visitors.

We provide one-to-one support for parents:
Our volunteers visit the family’s home for a couple of hours every week.  They tailor-make their support to the needs of the parents and children. Volunteers are very committed and will keep visiting until the youngest child turns five or starts school, or until the parents feel they can stand on their own two feet.  Parents and volunteers often develop a deeply trusting relationship which can lead to powerful change within the family.

We also run two family groups for referred families, one in the Pirbright Community Centre and the other in the Guildford Family Group, Hazel Avenue.

Our values

• We offer families choice
• We work in partnership - with each other, with families and with other agencies
• We work in a spirit of openness, encouragement and enjoyment
• We are flexible and responsive to the needs of families

Volunteering Opportunities 

There are several ways that you can help in a voluntary capacity:

• by supporting a family as a Home-Visiting Volunteer
• by helping at one of our Family Groups
• by joining the Trustee Board
• by becoming a Friend of Home-Start Guildford
• by supporting us as a Digital / Office Volunteer

Please see the volunteer roles listed for more detail.