Are you good with young people? Have excellent communication skills? And non-judgemental? Hampshire County Council Children’s Services are recruiting volunteers across the county to support its innovations programme which aims to transform social services and significantly reduce the need for vulnerable children and young people to be taken into care.
Would you consider committing some of your spare time once a week to provide support and advocacy to help families and young people who are struggling to cope?
The programme requires volunteers for four main areas, volunteers will be able to choose which area they’d prefer to volunteer within:
1. A volunteer is matched with a family who have a child who is permanently excluded from school and provides advice and advocacy to that family.
2. Mentoring a young person to help them engage in positive activities.
3. Interviewing young people who have been missing for more than 72hrs.
4. A volunteer is matched with a family to provide parenting advice and support.
Full training will be provided – initially four half day training sessions – followed by more specific training dependant upon the chosen field the volunteer volunteers in. Volunteers will also have access to a volunteer coordinator who will provide additional support and supervision.
What our volunteers have said about the Innovations project:
- “I recommend anyone who has even just a small bit of time to spare each week to consider this opportunity to have an acute impact on some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities”.
- “Training has been really interesting, challenging and well delivered. It has given me a chance to meet participants from across Hampshire”
- “I now have a clearer understanding of the role that Hampshire County Council children’s services play in safeguarding young people across the county”.
- “I know that I have very good support and back-up from the staff members of the Innovation Volunteers team – if I need assistance or answers, I know whom to ask”.
