Volunteer

“I think you get as much out of being a volunteer, as the people you’re volunteering for. It makes you feel worthwhile, it does you good. It makes you realise there are people worse off than yourself in the world.”

Edna, Home-Start Horizons Volunteer

Thank you for wanting to find out more about our volunteering opportunities.

Give the gift of time this year and help children and parents in your community.

Just a few hours of your time each week can transform the lives of young children and their parents within your local community.

Volunteer Hours Contributed

Volunteers Secured Employment

Volunteer Home Visits with Families

Over the last 50 years, our volunteers have made a BIG impact on the lives of families across Leicestershire and Rutland. Visiting a family weekly in their homes, our trained volunteers offer a mixture of practical and emotional support. We’ve been training volunteers since 1973, so you’re in good hands! 3,000+ Home-Start Horizon volunteers have enjoyed gaining new skills and experiences, all whilst making a difference.

We need volunteers from all walks of life

Because we proudly support families from a range of culturally diverse backgrounds we need volunteers who come from all walks of life. We welcome applications from every corner of society. Volunteers who can implement their unique cultural and lived experiences when working with our families are extremely valuable to us and the families they support

Home-Start Horizons Home-Visit Volunteer Checklist

No special qualifications are required to volunteer with us but we ask that you review our criteria checklist below, before enquiring:

You must be a parent or have parenting experience.
As a Home-Start volunteer you will support a family by visiting them at home for around two to three hours once a week.
We ask you to commit at least one year of your time to Home-Start Horizons if you are able.
You should have a non-judgmental attitude and understand about the pressures of bringing up a family.
You will have to attend our free Volunteer Preparation Course with other new volunteers before meeting your first family.
When visiting a family travel expenses are paid.
You must understand that your support for families is completely confidential.
You will have to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check at enhanced level.
You will meet regularly with, and be supported by, one of our co-ordinators during the time you are visiting families.

Ready to make a difference?

Call us today on 0116 279 5062 for an informal chat or email us on info@homestarthorizons.org.uk

Download Volunteer Application

Could you be next?

Details of our next FREE training course will appear here shortly

“Volunteering is so rewarding. Seeing a family smiling and looking forward to your visit is a sure sign you are making a difference.”

Home-Start Horizons Volunteer

Feel inspired? Then please find out more!

Home-Start Volunteers work #TogetherWithFamilies

The difference a volunteer makes

Being a Home-Start Volunteer: Abdoul’s story

Download Volunteer Application

“I have gained the pleasure of being in a family environment whilst giving guidance to families that are in difficult situations. It’s just been a heart-warming, pleasurable time”

Home-Start Horizons Volunteer

Other ways you can support Home-Start Horizons

Volunteer your unique skills and experience

We are always happy to hear from people who want to use their skills to help us. This could be :

Fundraising
Social Media
Photography and Videography
General Administration

And anything else you may be able to help us with – we’re truly open to whatever unique talents you possess. We’ve even had a volunteer masseuse, who kindly gifted hand massages to our hard-working staff and volunteers! No skill is too small to make a difference so please get in touch

An extra pair of hands-on hands

We understand that you may not be able to commit to weekly home visits with a family, but there are plenty of other services you can get stuck into such as:

Helping at playgroups
Helping with occasional specialist programmes, for example, healthy eating sessions and Mums In Mind
Organising social activities like trips to parks, the seaside, or cinema nights.
Driving families stuck without transport to grocery shopping or doctor appointments.
Organising fundraising events – from quiz nights to glitzy fundraising balls…
It may be that you can volunteer in a way that we haven’t thought about yet so get in touch and let us know what you have in mind.

Become a trustee

Join Our Team as a Trustee
As a trustee at Home-Start Horizons, you will play a vital role in the governing body of our non-profit organization. You will have the opportunity to make a real difference by providing overall direction and ensuring that our charity is effective. With your expertise you can contribute to the growth and success of our organization. We welcome a range of skills such as business management advice, financial and legal expertise, IT expertise, human resources knowledge, general charity and family support experience and more.

Commitment and Flexibility
We understand that your time is valuable, which is why a trustee typically commits to a minimum of 8 – 10 hours a month. This flexibility allows you to balance your other commitments while still making a significant impact on the management of our funds and the overall success of our organization. Your dedication and expertise will help us continue our mission for the next 50 years and beyond.

Get in Touch and Make a Change
If you are passionate about making a difference and want to use your skills and expertise to benefit our community, we would love to hear from you. Contact us today to see how you can help Home-Start Horizons. Together, we can create a brighter future for those in need. Get in touch to see how you can help