Home-Start Cotswolds
There for parents when they need us most,
because childhood can't wait
Volunteering Roles
Volunteering Roles
Home-Visiting Volunteer
At the heart of Home-Start is the belief that parents play the key role in giving their children the best start in life – and that other parents have the experience and understanding to support those families who need help.
If you are a parent or a grandparent, you know just how tough family life can be at times.
We are looking for people who have the time and commitment to support a family through a difficult period in their lives.
Our volunteers come from all ages and backgrounds and have a common interest in helping local families.
Volunteers support families by visiting them at home for 2-3 hours per week. They offer both emotional and practical support which helps parents cope with everyday situations.
All volunteers undertake an initial weekly training course to prepare them for their new role and many find that they learn a lot about themselves during the course. Some even find it is a stepping stone to a new career!
Volunteers all receive ongoing support and supervision from coordinators. They have access to further free training and social events throughout the year, and receive reimbursement for all out-of-pocket expenses.
Interested?
We run our training course annually, with our next sessions starting in January 2027. The training runs for 8 weeks, usually in the morning from 9.30am – 1pm, one day per week. We will confirm timings for our next training course in October 2026. If you are interested in joining us, please drop us an email and we can add you to our list, that way we can send you all the details as soon as they are released.
We tend to take applications from around September / October time and you’ll find our Volunteer Application Form below (click on the first purple button below). If you need the form in a different format please get in touch – we have other options available.
If you have any questions about our training please get in touch, you can call us on 01285 885391 or send a message through our contact us page. We look forward to hearing from you!
Trustees
We are keen to hear from people who would like to support us by becoming a trustee.
The role is all about the governance of the charity, including:
- Making the Home-Start Cotswolds effective
- Providing overall strategic direction
- Maintaining sound management of funds
It is an important role, carrying legal and financial responsibilities, which will require time and commitment. Trustees are expected to attend a board meeting in Cirencester every eight weeks and be an active part of a sub-group, which would involve further meetings. In addition, there is an Annual General Meeting and various fundraising, volunteer and family events throughout the year. The time commitment is approximately 4-6 hours per month.
You will also be invited to local and regional training and events. It is an unpaid position but you will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses.
Interested?
Please read the information here about the role of a Trustee. If you would then like to apply, please complete our Trustee application form – The form will open as a Microsoft Form for you to complete and submit. If you would prefer a different format, or experience any issues completing the form, please get in touch by email at office@home-start-cotswolds.org.uk or you can call us on 01285 885391. If you’d like to talk to someone at Home-Start Cotswolds about our Trustee roles before submitting an application, we’d be happy to arrange that for you – please get in touch or send a message via our contact us page.
Other ways you can help
If you feel that a Trustee or Home-Start Visiting role is not for you but you would still like to help, please contact us by calling 01285 885391 or send us a message through our contact us page.
