Volunteer at one of our Family Groups 

We run three Family Groups.  One operates at Pirbright Army Base on Tuesday mornings to support service families and the other two are held at The Guildford Family Centre on Hazel Avenue, Bellfields on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. All run during term time with some special events offered during the school holidays. The Pirbright Family Group has been running successfully since 2007 and the Hazel Avenue Groups since April 2021. 

We provide Family Groups in Pirbright and Guildford, including one specifically for families with new twins.  Staff and volunteers offer an excellent range of age appropriate activities for you to share with your child, developing them and your relationship with each other.  It’s a great chance for parents to meet others, share ideas and make new friends. Simple refreshments are available for you and your children. 

The Pirbright Group meets on a Tuesday at the Pirbright Community Centre   

The Guildford Group meets on a Thursday at the Guildford Family Centre, Hazel Avenue.    

The Twins Group meets on a Tuesday at the Guildford Family Centre, Hazel Avenue. 

We are also looking for volunteers who can support the coordinator with planning and running the group, preparing snacks and supporting families in the group setting.   

This role requires a DBS check and attendance of the Prep Course where you look at lots of useful and interesting topics and get to meet other volunteers over six sessions. 

Volunteers are the heart of Home-Start Guildford. In joining our dedicated and friendly team, you will:  

• take part in our free preparation training course 
• meet other likeminded people  
• meet regularly with, and be supported by, one of our co-ordinators  
• have access to training activities including specialist speakers 
• be invited to volunteer social events (including a free Christmas Lunch event)  
• receive regular updates and newsletters 
• be able to claim travel expenses when visiting a family 

All our volunteers are required to sign the Safeguarding and Protecting Children Code of Conduct, which is introduced to volunteers as part of their induction and indicates that they fully understand and are committed to Home-Start’s Policy and procedures for Safeguarding and Protecting Children.

Volunteers are also required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring check, at a level relevant to the position.

The Volunteer Preparation Course: 

We aim to run 2 free preparation courses a year, one in spring and another in the autumn. It consists of six 4.5 hour sessions, held on a Wednesday morning at our offices in Burpham. 

The course covers all aspects of volunteering for us such as Confidentiality, Safeguarding, Communication Skills, Positive Parenting and Boundaries.  

Our next volunteers training course starts on Wednesday 19th March 2025. If you’re interested in finding out more, you can contact the office on 01483 811151 or email office@hsguildford.org.uk or you can complete an expression of interest form: https://forms.office.com/e/8qtsSk0SzU 

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