Home-Start Isle of Wight is looking for 10 volunteers from Ryde or Newport who’d like to help those who need extra support with parenting – ‘because childhood can’t wait’.
The organisation supports families on the Island coping with issues such as post-natal depression, illness or disability, isolation or multiple births – or simply the challenges of day-to-day parenthood.
Volunteers – who must be parents or have parenting experience themselves – are asked to visit families regularly to offer emotional and practical support. This friendly parent-to-parent arrangement, which requires around 2-3 hours’ volunteering a week, is a simple yet effective way of enabling struggling families to get back on track.
Toby Eaglen, Sovereign Community Development Officer, said:
“We want to be able to tap into the skills of our communities. That’s why we’re funding training, travel and expenses for ten volunteers who feel they’d like to step up and learn how they can help other parents through practical help and encouragement.”
Alison Griffiths, Senior Co-ordinator at Home-Start IOW, said:
“We are delighted to have Sovereign’s support in the recruitment and training of Home-Start volunteers. Our volunteers visit families at home each week offering practical help and emotional support. It’s so important that the training they receive covers all aspects of the role and ensures volunteers feel confident, happy and ready. Our volunteers are as different as the families we support so it is great to be able to broaden our reach in terms of volunteer recruitment.”
Training will be held at Exchange House, St. Cross Lane, Newport starting in September and on later dates throughout the year. Volunteers from Ryde and Newport are encouraged to apply, with all volunteers vetted and subject to an enhanced DBS check.
For more information – or to offer or receive support – call Home-Start on 01983 533357, email [email protected] or find the organisation on Facebook.
Those who cannot look after their children should NEVER have had them. Too many never consider contraception, as they know having a child will get them a home, get them cash just by working the minimum hours via tax credits and then, can’t be bothered to even look after them.
I BET though they keep all the child allowance, child and working tax credits, when accepting MORE CHARITY in the form of free help from nice but naïve volunteers.
I realise that in a few circumstances Parent or parents may need ‘help’ through no fault of their own. BUT I am also aware of the growing numbers of Muvvers, not real Mothers, who are too into themselves and are not fit to own a pet, let alone bring up a child.
Cut the cash to the bone, give non transferable vouchers for child care so then people have a child because they ‘want’ it, not because of the cash and free home that ‘comes with’ the by product of a drugged or drunken one night stand.
Wow. You seem to have a wonderful insight into why these people need help. It must be amazing to be you. Do enlighten us with more of your opinions and also maybe attach some references to back up your claims so we can all research social issues and become as humane and caring as you. There are some amazing articles around about how to stop being a misinformed, small minded, bitter, nasty and prejudiced individual that I’m sure will benefit you… or at least it will keep you busy enough to stop making such stupid claims about a wonderful service which supports individuals who are needing help and are brave enough to seek that help. With attitudes like yours it’s no wonder society is going the way it is. Control you by fear so you don’t know your neighbours. Also recommended reading The Establishment by Owen Jones, there’s some tricky words you might struggle with but it’s worth persevering
post-natal depression, illness or disability, isolation or multiple births can happen to any parent. Rich or poor. Educated or not. Old or young. You can’t predict the future. We can all be prepared and ready for parenthood but unexpected things happen. Everyone can struggle in any point in life. Helping someone that you didn’t previously know if you have experience in an area is no different to a friend or family member. Helping you. It’s community support. Bringing people together. It’s invaluable.
Fully agree that SOME are in need. It is the growing number of those happy to let others take on their problems which are the concern.
Years ago IF you bred it, YOU looked after it, now they expect others to take on their responsibility and the more ‘others’ do the more they will expect.