Volunteer to support care experienced young parents - Ohana Champions

Are you kind, flexible, positive and good at making new relationships? Could you provide real support that makes a difference to a young parent’s life? Do you have time to share and can make a long-term commitment?

If so, join 15 Ohana volunteers and become an Ohana Champion.

Apply to become an Ohana Champion

About Ohana
What you'll do
Skills and experience needed
Time required
Locations
What you'll get
Find out more
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About Ohana

Ohana supports young parents who are care-experienced.

We're looking for kind and enthusiastic volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and interests to become Ohana Champions.

Being a parent is the hardest job in the world and often comes with little or no training. For young parents who are care-experienced, the traditional family support networks may often be limited, and this makes the job even harder.

Our experience of COVID-19 has highlighted how easily we can all become disconnected and isolated from family, loved ones and each other.

As an Ohana Champion, you'll make a difference by supporting parents to grow their confidence, skills, resilience and support networks.

You'll be asked to provide emotional and practical support to parents and their children by building a meaningful and positive relationship.

Check out the impact you'll be having, in this case study on Ohana.

Meeting the team

Once you've applied, we'll contact you to arrange a day to meet the team where you'll be able to chat with us and find out more.

What you'll do

We've worked with Ohana parents on this list of ways you can support them:

have a cuppa and a chat so they can talk through things that maybe worrying them
support them with attending meetings, appointments or groups
support them with understanding and completing forms or applications
help them with planning and tasks like shopping, budgeting, paying bills, tidying, cleaning and preparing healthy meals
practical support like helping them to move house or basic DIY
help them to think about and plan for giving birth and preparing to be a parent
support them to plan and do fun activities with their children
help them grow their confidence to find and build new relationships
help them to find information and organisations that can help them with specific things they're worrying about.

Skills and experience needed

This isn't a professional or paid role and we are not expecting experts. We're looking for individuals who can provide ongoing and supportive relationships.

Ohana Champions and parents will be matched based on factors such as interests, skills, needs, geography and availability. A tailored support agreement will be drawn up between parent and Champion so everybody is clear on when and what has been agreed. This will be periodically reviewed to make sure everybody is happy.

Ohana Champions:

offer a regular commitment
are flexible, reliable and non-judgemental
promote inclusion
are supportive, confident, calm and good listeners
have experience of babies and children, through their own life experience or employment
understand the need for privacy and confidentiality
drive and have access to transport (desired)
know when young parents or their children may need more help than the Champion can provide
understand and abide by the Hertfordshire County Council policies and procedures in relation to safeguarding, confidentiality and equal opportunities.

This volunteer role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Time required

How much time you spend volunteering will depend on your availability and the needs of the young person you are matched with.

We'll look to match you with a young parent who needs the levels of support you're able to offer the time for.

We ask Champions to give a minimum commitment of 2 years – this is important so you can build a good working relationship with the young people you are working with.

Locations

Volunteer opportunities are available across Hertfordshire.

What you'll get

The opportunity to use your life experience.
Be part of a supportive team.
Learn new skills and meet new people.
Reimbursements for all reasonable expenses, including travel and refreshments.

The support you'll get

Excellent training, including an induction programme that covers topics such as safeguarding, mental health and listening skills.
Access to Hertfordshire County Council's interactive online learning.
Regular supervision and support, including 1:1s, group and telephone support.
Regular opportunities to be part of a team where you can develop and share your learning and skills.

Find out more

Apply now or contact Fionna at Ohana@hertfordshire.gov.uk Alternatively, call Fionna on 07866 224876 or Katy on 07815 021847.