Local family charity, Home-Start Kennet, is hoping people will consider putting volunteering at the top of their 2022 “to-do list” to support families in the community who need help.
The call comes amid a growing rise in awareness that giving back to others through volunteering is good for your mental health and well-being.
Home-Start Kennet supports local families thanks to a network of trained volunteers who help parents with young children through a range of issues, including coping with twins, postnatal depression, loneliness, isolation, domestic abuse, bereavement and parents with health struggles or disabilities.
Tania Rackham, of Home-Start Kennet, said: “We hope the New Year might inspire people to consider volunteering. It has a huge positive impact, not just on the life of families, but also for the volunteer themselves. Volunteering is associated with higher levels of wellbeing, better general health, improved life satisfaction and is a fulfilling way to help your local community. It creates a sense of purpose, promotes routine and the most important of all, makes people feel happy.
Home-Start works because it is such a simple yet powerful concept. Volunteers are matched with a parent, then visit them once a week to support. It’s very satisfying to see families get the help they need behind the scenes and see them really blossom.”
There are home-visiting volunteer opportunities and also a range of other volunteer opportunities either in person or remotely via phone or zoom, including administration, trustee and fund raising roles.
Jennie Mann, Head of Volunteering at Home-Start UK, said: “New Year is a time when people often re-evaluate their lives and goals so it would be amazing if people could put volunteering for their local Home-Start on their New Year to-do list. Volunteering at this time might also include helping to fundraise, in such challenging times for charities.”
Home-Start Kennet’s next Volunteer training starts on 24th February. To find out more about volunteering for Home-Start click here.
Alternatively visit the website here or email hskadmin@homestartkennet.co.uk
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