Training
Volunteer Preparation Course
Why have a Preparation Course?
All new volunteers feel concerned, anxious and nervous and our Preparation Course is designed to allay those fears and answer any questions volunteers may have.
All potential volunteers have to complete a Preparation Course prior to being accepted as a home-visiting volunteer. The preparation course is designed to do two things:
- to prepare the volunteers for things they may encounter as a home-visiting volunteer;
- to help the co-ordinators get to know each volunteer. This is essential if the co-ordinators are to make a successful match between family and volunteer.
The Preparation Course is designed to be informative and fun as well as answer questions volunteers may have, such as:
- What if I don't like the family I'm allocated?
- What about school holidays?
- Will I be prepared for visiting people in their own homes?
- What if there's something going on in the family that I don't feel comfortable with?
These are all questions which have been asked before and the co-ordinators will be happy to go over them – and many others - during the Preparation Course or individually with prospective volunteers.
The Preparation Course is usually held one day a week for seven or eight weeks, during school hours. There is no obligation to become a volunteer at the end of the Preparation Course and there are various options to volunteering, such as home-visiting, at a Family Support Group, in the office or on the Board of Trustees and all these options are open to all volunteers.
Preparation Course Topics
The subjects covered in a preparation course include:
- A general introduction to Home-Start East Fife and what it means to be a home-visiting volunteer
- Family life: stresses and strains
- Attitudes and values
- Listening and communicating
- Confidentiality
- Child Protection
- Commitment and Boundaries
- Support for volunteers and personal safety
By the end of the course you should have a better insight into the work of Home-Start East Fife and feel well prepared for home-visiting. All expenses incurred both during the Preparation Course and on home-visiting are reimbursed. All volunteers can expect the continued support of the co-ordinators and the Board of Trustees at Home-Start East Fife.
The more volunteers we have - the more families we can support!
Home-Start East Fife needs you!
We try to run two Preparation Courses a year so keep an eye on 'Forthcoming Events' and the news feed on our Home Page for details of the next course. You can also contact us and be added to our mailing list: we will use your contact details to write to you when a Preparation Course is due to start (and the details will not be used for anything else).
