Home Support Volunteer

Becoming a Home Support Volunteer provides a rewarding opportunity to directly support children with life-limiting/ life threatening conditions and their families.

Living with a child’s diagnosis can place considerable strain on the whole family and in recognition of this the Home Support Volunteer programme was established to help families cope with the demands of providing constant care. Home Support Volunteers provide a range of practical and social support to the families of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions in the community and helping them make the most of every day!

The needs of individual families will differ, but each Home Support Volunteering role will be agreed in advance between the family, Noah’s Ark, and the volunteer depending on the member of the family being supported, a Home Support Volunteer role could involve:

Siblings

• Playing together, sharing hobbies or activities
• Helping with homework or reading
• Going on trips out

Noah’s Ark [Referred] Children

• Playing together, sharing hobbies
• Doing sensory or developmental play activities
• Helping with homework or reading

Parents

• Supporting them with getting out into the community, e.g. attending a parent & child group
• Playing with the child to allow them to get chores done in the home or have a break
• Helping with light housework chores such as laundry & ironing

Whole Family

• Driving the family to medical appointments
• Gardening & mowing the lawn
• Decorating or helping to pack boxes for a house move
• Supporting the family on a day trip out

What skills do I need?

• Good communication skills
• A good level of self-awareness
• reliability, commitment and engagement
• Ability to work well with others 
• Empathy 

About Noah's Ark Children's Hospice

At Noah's Ark Children's Hospice, we help babies, children and young people with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions, and their families, make the most of every day. And we support those who die young to do so in as much comfort as possible, surrounded by family.

When do I need to be available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Details

Home Support visits can happen any day of the week between 8am - 8pm. Visits normally last 1-2 hours and we look to match you with a family we support based on times you can make, the help you would like to give and how far you are willing to travel.