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Volunteering in Havering

The Early Help Service runs a number of volunteer programmes across Havering to support our work with children, young people, and families. We don’t ask for any qualifications, just a commitment to and passion for providing the best service for children, young people, and families in Havering. For more information on the roles we are currently recruiting to, please click on the links below.

Why volunteer with us?

ü  Make a difference and make a contribution to Havering children, young people, and their families

ü  Receive professional-level training and valuable experience

ü  Feel supported and guided every step of the way

ü  No volunteer is out-of-pocket – the Early Help Service pays for travel and activity costs as part of volunteering

Early Help Service and Youth Offending Service volunteers enhance the work that we do, and provide a better, richer offer to Havering residents, including in the following areas:

  • Young People’s Mentoring
  • Independent Visiting (Befriending for children and young people in care)
  • Family Coaching (Family support step-down to independence)
  • Youth Offending Community Panels
  • Restorative Justice workshops
  • Children’s centre activities
  • Youth Offending Service admin

Earlyhelpvolunteer@havering.gov.uk

Please complete our online form for early help volunteers click on the link Early Help Volunteers

Independent Visitor

What is the Independent Visitor Service?

The Havering Independent Visitor Service will give every child and young person in care the offer of a regular befriender to provide consistent support, to listen to their thoughts and feelings, and to take part in a range of activities/trips together.

Independent Visitors are matched with a child or young person and meet with them every two-three weeks, for a period of up to 18 months.

When and where:

  • Meetings out in the community, at a time and place to suit volunteers and young people. Each meeting will last around two hours but may be longer.
  • Havering looked after children are not always placed in the Borough, so further travel may be required

How do I become an Independent Visitor?

  1. Please complete the volunteer registration form attached to this page and email it to Earlyhelpvolunteer@havering.gov.uk
  2. The Early Help Service Volunteer Co-ordinator will invite you to an informal meeting to discuss the role in more detail
  3. If the role is right for you, you will be told about the next training dates. Please note that we only accept volunteers once we have observed them during training, and carried out reference and an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) checks.

What do we ask for?

  • We don’t ask for any qualifications, just a commitment to and passion for providing the best service for children, young people and families in Havering
  • Willing to attend the training and take part in the necessary checks
  • Confident and flexible approach
  • Experience of working with children or young people, in any capacity

Young People's Mentor

What is the Young People’s Mentor Service?

Havering Young People’s Mentoring Service provides support, advice and guidance to young people aged 10-18, encouraging them to make positive choices and achieve their goals.

Mentors are matched with a young person and meet with them on a weekly basis,for a period of 12 months’ to be changed to 6 months. During this time, a strong relationship is built through a variety of activities and trips, including a monthly group meeting with other volunteers and young people engaged in the Service.

When and where:

  • Weekly meetings out in the community, at a time and place to suit volunteers and young people. Each meeting will last one-two hours.

How do I become a Mentor?

  1. Please complete the volunteer registration form attached to this page and email it to Earlyhelpvolunteer@havering.gov.uk
  2. The Early Help Service Volunteer Co-ordinator will invite you to an informal meeting to discuss the role in more detail
  3. If the role is right for you, you will be told about the next training dates. Please note that we only accept volunteers once we have observed them during training, and carried out reference and an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) checks.

What do we ask for?

  • We don’t ask for any qualifications, just a commitment to and passion for providing the best service for children, young people and families in Havering
  • Willing to attend the training and take part in the necessary checks
  • Confident and flexible approach
  • Experience of working with children or young people, in any capacity

Family Coach

What is the Family Coach programme?

The Family Coach programme has been running successfully since 2016 to provide support to families who have engaged with the Early Help Service to become independent from services in the future.

Family Coaches are matched with a family and visit them in their home once a week, for a period of up to six months. The support they provide will be tailored to each family, and will be led by the needs and wishes of the family.

When and where:

  • Weekly home visits within Havering, at a time to suit the volunteers and families. Each visit will last around one hour.

How do I become a Family Coach?

  1. Please complete the volunteer registration form attached to this page and email it to Earlyhelpvolunteer@havering.gov.uk
  2. The Early Help Service Volunteer Co-ordinator will invite you to an informal meeting to discuss the role in more detail
  3. If the role is right for you, you will be told about the next training dates. Please note that we only accept volunteers once we have observed them during training, and carried out reference and an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) checks.

What do we ask for?

  • We don’t ask for any qualifications, just a commitment to and passion for providing the best service for children, young people and families in Havering
  • Willing to attend the training and take part in the necessary checks
  • Confident and flexible approach
  • Experience of working with children, young people or families, in any capacity

 

Parent Group Leader

What is a Parent Group Leader?

The Early Help Service is looking for Parent Group Leader volunteers, to share their skills and knowledge with other Havering parents. In small teams, Parent Group Leaders will deliver the Being a Parent course exploring behaviour, feelings, play, communication and coping with stress

Volunteers will receive all training and support, and we will provide free child care for children aged up to 8 years old for everyone taking part.

When and where:

  • Weekly parenting courses at a children’s centre that is local to you in Havering. The commitment is about four hours per week.

How do I become a Parent Group Leader?

  1. Please complete the volunteer registration form attached to this page and email it to Earlyhelpvolunteer@havering.gov.uk
  2. The Early Help Service Volunteer Co-ordinator will invite you to an informal meeting to discuss the role in more detail
  3. If the role is right for you, you will be told about the next training dates. Please note that we only accept volunteers once we have observed them during training, and carried out reference and an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) checks.

What do we ask for?

  • We don’t ask for any qualifications, just a commitment to and passion for providing the best service for children, parents and families in Havering
  • Willingness to attend the training and take part in the necessary checks
  • Confident and flexible approach
  • Experience of parenting or caring for a child aged 2-4 years

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