This article is on behalf of Home Link Family Support.

Volunteer with us and we’ll train you to visit a family for 2-3 hours a week to offer emotional and practical support.  It’s very simple but it makes a big difference to a family without Grandpas, Aunties or close supportive friends.

We’ll look after you all the way.  You’ll have a named Project Worker who will meet you regularly to make sure everything is going well for you.  We’ll pay all travel and expenses.  We’ll also offer you optional extra training in First Aid, Mental Health, Child Literacy and Play.

We need volunteers who can visit a family for a year in order to build up a really trusting relationship.

The families all have at least one child under five and there may be older children in the family too.

Each family is different but our volunteers generally do a lot of non-judgemental listening, praising and encouragement for the parents.  And with the children they read books, play, go outside for fun and games, help with homework, maybe a bit of baking or swimming. Anything you do is guaranteed to brighten up a family’s week and help them to gain the confidence and resilience that will give the children a positive start in life.

Our volunteers are all sorts of people – students who want solid experience to match their courses, retired people with energy to spare, people who are thinking of changing career and want to dip a toe into Children & Families, or people who remember how tricky those early years were and want to help out.

A recent volunteer have said:

I’ve very much enjoyed my time working with Home Link.  The training opportunities are fantastic and helped me in getting my current job.  I value the 2 hours I spend a week with my Home Link family, and it is a good feeling to know that I’m helping them and it has allowed me to meet some wonderful people.

We work in the whole of Midlothian and South Edinburgh.

Get in touch and we’ll tell you about the training and give you more info.

Email:   info@homelinkfamilysupport.org

Website:  www.homelinkfamilysupport.org

Phone:  0131 661 0890