Could you volunteer to visit a family in their own home to offer friendly, practical and confidential support?

Our Home-Start Better Start project, delivered by Home-Start Bradford District, trains volunteers to provide home-visit support to expectant families and families with children aged 0-3.

Volunteer peer supporters offer:

• Empathy and an understanding that problems are not unusual
• Reassurance that they are not alone
• A listening ear and a shoulder to cry on
• An extra pair of hands to help them cope with everyday situations
• Practical help with activities like playing or story time
• Friendly support through difficult times for as long as they need support

Ideally volunteers should be a parent or have parenting experience. Full training is provided.

If you’re interested in this role, please contact Home-Start Bradford District for more information on 01274 666711 / [email protected]

The next Volunteer Preparation Session begins on Thursday 14 September 2023.

Find out more about the role here

Are you a good listener? Our Perinatal Support Service, delivered by Family Action,  provides support and a listening ear to women who are suffering mild to moderate mental health issues during the perinatal period via their network of volunteer Perinatal Peer Supporters.

You’ll receive comprehensive training and ongoing supervision to enable you to support the emotional needs of women during pregnancy and up to one year after birth. Support is provided to families during pregnancy and the first year after birth.

As well as gaining training, this role will help you develop new skills and gain great experience. Above all you’ll feel real satisfaction in supporting the emotional wellbeing of pregnant women and new parents. Here’s what one peer supporter said:

I really liked the interaction with my client and can see that I am helping and this also impacts on my own self esteem – it feels good to help others.

If you’re interested in this role, please contact Family Action for more information on:

• 07966 926849
• [email protected]

• Do you have a passion for pregnancy, birth and beyond?

• Are you interested in supporting expectant families?

• Do you want to help people have good birthing experiences?

• Do you have time to commit to a unique volunteering role?

• Need a stepping stone into further education or new employment opportunities?

Acting as a ‘professional friend’, volunteer doulas help women to make informed choices around their pregnancy, birth, and infant feeding choices. Doulas offer continuity and emotional support, and practical support as a birth partner. They build relationships with other services and support women towards achieving positive experiences.

Volunteer doulas provide support six weeks before the baby’s birth, during labour and six weeks after the birth.

Volunteer Training

To volunteer in this role you need to complete a 10-13 week training course and complete a ‘Volunteer Doula & Breastfeeding Portfolio’.

If you’re interested in this role, you can find out more and register your interest here

• 01274 223232
• [email protected]

Better Start Imagine promotes literacy skills for young children. It aims to inspire a love of books from a young age and help develop early language and literacy skills and a special bond between parent and child through book sharing.

In addition to gifting free books to children from birth to five living in the Better Start Bradford area, Better Start Imagine delivers weekly story and rhyme time sessions in local libraries and community settings.

If you enjoy reading, sharing books or telling stories (without books) to children, have a creative streak and a spare hour or two a week, why not volunteer? Full story and rhyme time training will be offered and any expenses will be covered.

If you’re interested in this role, please contact the Better Start Imagine Co-ordinator for more information on:

• 01274 730415
• [email protected] 

Could you volunteer to visit a family in their own home to offer friendly, practical and confidential support?

Our Home-Start Better Start project, delivered by Home-Start Bradford District, trains volunteers to provide home-visit support to expectant families and families with children aged 0-3.

Volunteer peer supporters offer:

• Empathy and an understanding that problems are not unusual
• Reassurance that they are not alone
• A listening ear and a shoulder to cry on
• An extra pair of hands to help them cope with everyday situations
• Practical help with activities like playing or story time
• Friendly support through difficult times for as long as they need support

Ideally volunteers should be a parent or have parenting experience. Full training is provided.

If you’re interested in this role, please contact Home-Start Bradford District for more information on 01274 666711 / [email protected]

Find out more about the role here

Could you volunteer a few hours a week as a parent champion for our HENRY project?

You’ll gain great experience working in a team supporting families to live healthier lives. Activities include organising and running activities that help families with 0-3s to be healthier and more active. Champions also encourage and support parents to join a HENRY Healthy Families group programme and inspire them to sustain a healthy family lifestyle.

Champions receive free training and regular support from the Coordinator. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, build your skills and improve your CV.

If you’re interested in this role, please contact HENRY for more information at [email protected]

Better Start Imagine promotes literacy skills for young children. It aims to inspire a love of books from a young age and help develop early language and literacy skills and a special bond between parent and child through book sharing.

In addition to gifting free books to children from birth to five living in the Better Start Bradford area, Better Start Imagine delivers weekly story and rhyme time sessions in local libraries and community settings.

If you enjoy reading, sharing books or telling stories (without books) to children, have a creative streak and a spare hour or two a week, why not volunteer? Full story and rhyme time training will be offered and any expenses will be covered.

If you’re interested in this role, please contact the Better Start Imagine Co-ordinator for more information on:

• 01274 730415
• [email protected]