Due to COVID-19 we are still recruiting, but are operating remotely to maintain social distancing. Please get in touch with our team for more details.
Volunteering Matters latest response to COVID-19
Volunteers Supporting Families in Edinburgh offers practical and emotional support to families across the South East and South West localities of Edinburgh, empowering them to face a range of life challenges.
We recruit, train and match dedicated, local volunteers to help families every step of the way, spending 1-1 time together on a personalised set of goals chosen by the family, for the family.
Our volunteers are locally based people with an understanding of the challenges that families are facing. Aged 18+, each volunteer brings different life experiences and skills that they can use to help the family they are matched to, offering support on a weekly basis, usually for 6-9 months at a time that suits everyone. They build a strong relationship based on trust and mutual respect, acting as a friendly face who listens and cares about the family. All volunteers are interviewed, trained to the highest standards and undergo disclosure checks before being matched with a family.
The volunteers must have an interest in helping people – both parents and children. Full training is provided, so it’s not necessary to have previous experience working with families. Often, our volunteers find that their own life experience helps them offer support to families.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
- Aged over 18 years old
- Able and willing to commit to visiting the family once every week, for a minimum of 6 months
- Willing to provide references and complete a PVG (criminal record) check, paid for by Volunteering Matters
- Be dedicated and patient, not be disappointed if there are no big changes straight away.
- Be caring and friendly, and most importantly, be a good listener
- Have an interest in helping people, both parents and children
WHAT WE PROVIDE
As well as the sense of achievement that comes through supporting a family, our volunteers will have the opportunity to learn and develop new skills, attend social events with other volunteers and enhance their employability. Certificates are provided upon completion of induction training and at the end of the commitment, with project staff happy to provide references for future studies or employment.
To find out more about our service or if you’d like to volunteer, call 07377 692 427 or email us at:
kyle.mcfaddenyoung@volunteeringmatters.org.uk
Apply now