Be the first to comment!Home-Start Malta is looking for new volunteers for team
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Home-Start Malta is looking for new volunteers to join its current team. They will be supporting families who have at least one child under the age of 5.
Home-Start offers parent-to-parent support to parents who, for some reason or other, are finding it difficult to cope. Families who ask for this service are given the support and guidance needed when facing challenging situations. These may include illness, multiple birth, mental and physical disability, isolation and lack of parenting skills. Home-Start volunteers build a friendly and supportive relationship with parents. They encourage parents to spend more quality time with their children. They also offer practical support such as: accompanying parents for medical appointments, helping parents organise better their household chores such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting skills amongst others.
Parenting young children is very demanding and tiring. Parents often feel overwhelmed with the demands. This led to the creation of Home-Start in the UK, way back in the 70’s. There are now over 330 schemes in the UK and 100 schemes in over 20 countries worldwide, including Malta. Home-Start Malta started off in 2006 and is supported by Agenzija Appogg, and sponsored by HSBC Malta Foundation and Vodafone Malta Foundation.
To become a Home-Start volunteer, the main pre-requisite is that of being a parent or having direct parenting experience. This is important as the volunteers will be able to understand the hardships and joys the families are facing whilst bringing up young children.
Volunteers come from all walks of life – from young parents who help other young parents, to ’empty-nesters’ and grandparents. Friendliness and a caring attitude are indispensable since this service is based on the relationship built between the family and the volunteer. All volunteers attend a 40-hour training programme before visiting families. Volunteers are given ongoing professional support throughout from the Home-Start Organiser.
Those interested in joining the Home-Start team of volunteers, may call for more information on 2167 8043, 2398 5111 or on 9901 8398; send an email on home.start@maltanet.net, or fill in an online form by clicking here by not later than 31st January 2011.
