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Home-Start Guildford
Mission Statement
"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.
General Interests
Could you be a Home-Visiting Volunteer?
🌟 Could You Be a Lifeline for a Local Family? Become a Home-Visiting Volunteer 🌟
Do you have parenting experience and a few hours to spare each week? You could make a world of difference to a family going through a tough time.
At Home-Start Guildford, our home-visiting volunteers offer friendly, informal support to families with young children. Whether it’s holding a baby so mum can shower, playing with toddlers so a parent can rest, or simply being a listening ear - your time and empathy can change lives.
Home-visiting volunteers come from many different backgrounds and vary in age but all are either parents themselves or have parenting experience. They provide informal, friendly emotional support and practical help to families.
Why Volunteer With Us?
- 🤝 Make a real difference in your local community
- 🎓 Free training and ongoing support
- 🚗 Travel expenses reimbursed
- 🧠 Learn new skills and build confidence
- 💬 Join a warm, supportive volunteer network
- 🎉 Enjoy social events and specialist talks
What We’re Looking For:
- Parenting experience (you don’t need to be a current parent!)
- A commitment of 2–3 hours a week for at least a year
- Willingness to attend our preparation course and ongoing training
- A kind heart, a listening ear, and a non-judgemental attitude
We’ll support you every step of the way - with training, supervision, and thoughtful matching to a family who will benefit from your unique experience.
Volunteers take their own individual skills and experience to the families they visit. Talking and listening can empower families to overcome their difficult situations. Visits might include holding the baby while mum has a shower, playing with twin toddlers while mum has a sleep, taking parents shopping and showing them how to budget, being a listening ear to relieve isolation, modelling positive parenting and play.
What we offer you:
- An ongoing commitment to help volunteers fulfil their roles to the best of their ability
- Comprehensive and up-to-date information about Home-Start
- Individual interview with one of our co-ordinators before commencing training
- Free initial training before you commence as a home-visiting volunteer
- Opportunities for regular ongoing training
- Appropriate support and supervision, both individually and at volunteer support group meetings
- A thorough matching service when matching volunteers to new families
- Re-imbursement of travel expenses
- Annual volunteer social events
If you would like to find out more, to make an enquiry, please fill in an application and someone will be in touch with you.
Fundraising Trustee
This is a Voluntary position.
About Us
Home-Start Guildford is an independent charity based in Guildford committed to promoting the welfare of local families and children. We are part of Home-Start UK, one of the UK’s leading family support charities, benefiting from their policy framework and quality assurance, but not funding. Staff and volunteers offer regular support, including providing emotional and practical help to families in the families’ own homes and connecting families with specialist services within the community.
We are looking for a Fundraising Trustee who can support us to raise much needed funds. This is a very important role within our charity. Fundraising to increase our financial sustainability ensures that we can continue to provide our services to our beneficiaries. As a Charity Trustee with fundraising expertise, you will play a pivotal role in providing strategic direction to our fundraising efforts. We have a small, dedicated staff team who can provide support and help implement fundraising activities, ensuring trustees are not expected to carry the workload alone.
A little bit about the role…
- To maintain strong relationships with existing donors and supporters.
- To identify, assess and progress new grant sources and fundraising opportunities.
- To coordinate and support the work of the fundraising committee.
- To contribute to fundraising events.
- To maintain knowledge of current fundraising procedures and legislation affecting fundraising activities within the charitable sector.
- To raise awareness of Home-Start Guildford and the work we do with families, galvanizing support from the local community, businesses and organisations.
A little bit about you…
- Passionate and dedicated individual with experience of fundraising in charity, public, and/or corporate sectors, with a successful track record of achieving and exceeding fundraising targets.
- Enthusiasm to work collaboratively as part of a small, ambitious team.
- Eager to take the initiative and get hands-on with a positive “can do” attitude to bring fundraising projects to fruition.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise.
- Friendly and approachable; honest and trustworthy.
Your time commitment
- If you have the capacity and willingness to make a difference, we would love you to join the team and help implement our 2025-6 diverse funding strategy.
- We anticipate 2 – 4 hours of your time a week, but this may increase during the build up to events.
- Attend Management Committee meetings which are held every 6-8 weeks.
What does becoming a trustee involve?
As part of the trustee role, you will be expected to:
- Attend, and prepare for, a minimum of six meetings per year.
- Undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
- Undergo a selection process as outlined by Home-Start Guildford.
- Commit to the legal and financial responsibilities of the role, as outlined in the charity’s Constitution (‘Foundation’ model constitution).
- Visit and engage with the office and staff to enhance your understanding of how Home-Start Guildford works.
Training and Support?
- Trustees are fully inducted into Home-Start at the start of their new role; they will receive:
- An online welcome event and e-learning, introducing Home-Start’s service and your responsibilities.
- Training in key areas including safeguarding.
- Reimbursement of paid expenses.
- Access to Home-Start’s online community via Home-Start UK intranet – full of information and guidance on running a local Home-Start.
- Tailored support by other trustees and staff.
What do you get as a volunteer trustee with our organisation?
- An opportunity to exercise your strategic planning skills, probably in a different environment or context.
- An opportunity to influence and collectively lead an organisation supporting families of young children.
- A chance to expand and implement your understanding of our work.
- A chance to augment your experience of charities.
- A boost to your career and CV, if needed.
- Satisfaction of helping an organisation that supports families, thus giving something back to your community.
- Induction training from us; training, support, and assistance from local charity-support & advice agencies; reimbursement of reasonable expenses, if needed.
What do we get?
- Your strategic skills, knowledge, understanding, or experience.
- Your abilities to influence plans for our charity’s future, especially in this cost-of-living crisis.
- Enhancement to our overall governance and the Board of trustees; improvement in our operational growth.
- Your participation in our collective decision-making, contributing to all areas of our charity work.
How to Apply:
In the first instance, please fill in an application through the Voluntary Action South West Surrey website. You will be asked to send an up-to-date CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role.
We look forward to hearing from candidates who share our vision and are eager to contribute to our mission.
Contact Information: For more information about the role, please contact Sarah Black or Louisa Tompkins in the first instance at office@hsguildford.org.uk or call 01483 511181. We are happy to answer any questions and provide further details about this exciting opportunity.
All prospective volunteers must have the legal right to stay in the United Kingdom and you will be asked to produce evidence of this as part of the induction process.
Office: Home-Start Guildford, Astolat, Coniers Way, Guildford, GU4 7HL
Contact: 01483 511181 / office@hsguildford.org.uk
Home-Start is committed to equality of opportunity and diversity.
Home-Start Guildford is committed to safer recruitment practice as an important part of safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults.
Registered Charity No. 1154609
Fundraising Volunteers
Home-Start Guildford is looking for enthusiastic fundraising volunteers to help organise and run events and small fundraising initiatives.
Our charity supports local families through challenging times. Whether you love planning, hosting, or simply lending a hand, your time and energy can help us raise vital funds and awareness. It’s a great way to meet new people, develop skills, and be part of something truly meaningful, whilst making a real difference in your local community.
Get involved today - your support can change lives.
- Researching / sourcing opportunities and appropriate events where we can promote our services, raise some funds or highlight our volunteering opportunities.
- Organise and support a fundraising stall.
- Plan, organise and run fundraising events eg coffee mornings, craft events.
- Support others who are fundraising for us.
- Build networks with local businesses to raise our profile and encourage them to support our work.
- A chance to learn new skills
- A chance to gain experience in event management
- The opportunity to make new friends and build social networks
- The opportunity to contribute to vital work supporting families with young children
Training and support
Volunteers are the heart of Home-Start Guildford. In joining our dedicated and friendly team, you will:
- receive a comprehensive induction and have the option to take part in our free volunteer preparation training course
- meet regularly with, and be supported by, a designated member 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 undertaking activities for HSG
Digital / Office Volunteer
Join Our Volunteer Team at Home-Start Guildford!
Are you passionate about supporting families and making a difference in your local community? Home-Start Guildford is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us behind the scenes!
We’re currently seeking:
- Digital & Social Media Volunteers – Help us spread the word about our work, events, and impact through engaging content, social media posts, and digital campaigns.
- Office Volunteers – Support our day-to-day operations with admin tasks, data entry, and general office support to keep everything running smoothly.
Whether you have a few hours a month or more to give, your time and skills can make a real difference. No experience necessary - just a willingness to help and a heart for families.
📍 Based in Guildford
💻 Flexible remote options available for digital roles
🤝 Full support and training provided
Interested? Get in touch today to find out more!
- A chance to learn new skills
- A chance to gain experience in event management
- The opportunity to make new friends and build social networks
- The opportunity to contribute to vital work supporting families with young children
Training and support:
Volunteers are the heart of Home-Start Guildford. In joining our dedicated and friendly team, you will:
- receive a comprehensive induction and have the option to take part in our free volunteer preparation training course
- meet regularly with, and be supported by, a designated member 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 undertaking activities for HSG
