Who are our volunteers?

Home-Start Spelthorne’s home-visiting volunteers come from many different backgrounds and vary in age but all are parents themselves or have parenting experience. They are carefully selected for their friendliness and understanding.

All volunteers attend a preparation course before being linked with families and then take their own individual skills and experience to the families they visit. Volunteers visit families in the home because a parent has asked for help.  They wish to offer their time and friendship and they will accept a parent as they are.

The Home-Start Spelthorne Trustee board is made up of local people from a wide range of backgrounds. The main requirements of a trustee are a real interest in the family support work we undertake, a willingness to be involved and to be active in the running of the charity.

Fundraising volunteers (Friends) can be involved by giving their time to help raise funds or by financially supporting the work of Home-Start Spelthorne: running a marathon, attending one of our fundraising dinners, being a member of our 100 Club, holding a tea party, making crafts to sell. We are always happy to receive suggestions for fundraising events and are very grateful for all efforts made on our behalf.

Here’s just one story that demonstrates the long-lasting legacy of Home-Start support:

Twenty years ago, new mum Sam was supported by a Home-Start volunteer called Marie. Sam was experiencing post-natal illness, later diagnosed as post partum psychosis. Weekly visits from Marie became a lifeline to Sam and baby Molly.

Sam lost touch with Marie when her family moved to another part of the country. But they never forgot one another. Twenty years later they find each other on social media and arrange to meet up. And Sam brings along a very special surprise…