Volunteering
Volunteering with Us
Volunteers are very important in the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service. They help our staff by doing useful and supportive jobs. Because of our volunteers, we can help more children, young people, and families across Essex. Volunteering is rewarding for everyone – the families we support, our teams, and the volunteers themselves.
Why volunteer with us?
We work across Essex in Family Hubs, Delivery Sites, and community spaces. Our volunteers help people to: learn new skills build on what they already know, grow in confidence and feel good about themselves and give something back to their local community. We want our volunteers to enjoy what they do and make a real difference. By volunteering with us, you help children and young people have the best start in life. Volunteering helps everyone – the people we support, our staff, and our volunteers.
How to become a volunteer?
To apply, you need to fill in a short application form. You can find out more about volunteer roles on the Barnardo’s website: Volunteering Opportunities | Barnardo’s Volunteering. After you apply, one of our Community Connectors will contact you to arrange an informal chat.
If your application is successful, we will need to carry out a DBS (safety) check collect at least two references. You do not need to drive to be a volunteer.
If you choose to drive, we will need to see your driving licence and proof that your insurance allows it. Once the checks are done, you will be invited to training. This will help you feel safe and confident in your role and teach you what you need to know.
Please be advised this process can take up to 4 – 12 weeks.
More Information
Volunteer Roles Available
There are a variety of roles available to volunteers across our Essex services. If you think you have a particular skill or interest that could be used to benefit the families we support and the work we do, please get in touch.
Some examples of roles available:
- Assist in busy sessions focusing on child development and play, for example, music and movement, messy play, or arts and crafts
- Self-weigh sessions: sign-in families, show new families around the centre and provide information on Family Hub services and support available, support new mums and their babies through the early stages of parenthood.
- Admin support: Assist admin staff with photocopying timetables and leaflets, laminating resources and scanning information
- Meet and greet: Welcome families, sign in and register families, provide information about activities and services, answer the telephone
- Other support: Other roles include gardening, supporting one-off events or a Family Hub Champion
The volunteering opportunities which Barnardo’s currently have available, can be found here
There Are Many Benefits to Becoming a Volunteer
- Gain valuable life experience and skills
- Build confidence and self-esteem
- Gain new skills and support learning, training or studying opportunities
- Develop knowledge and experience to support a return to paid employment
- Access to Barnardo’s staff benefits
- Opportunity to set up and run your own group / session
- Be rewarded and recognised through Barnardo’s Reward and Recognition scheme
- Satisfaction in helping others
- Meet new people
- All volunteers are offered full training and support, and an opportunity to develop new skills in a friendly environment.
Adoption and Fostering
We offer opportunities for people to volunteer within the service, to help them on their journey towards becoming adoptive parents or taking on a foster carer role.