Volunteer to support care-experienced young parents as an Ohana Champion

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.

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 supporting young families has highlighted how easily we can all become disconnected and isolated from loved ones and each other.

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

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

Ohana Parents have helped us compile this list of ways you may be able to support them:

have a cuppa and a chat so they can talk through things that may be worrying them
support them with attending appointments, groups, or meetings
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
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
help them to think about and plan for giving birth and preparing to be a parent.

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
are supportive, confident, calm and good listeners
understand the need for privacy and confidentiality
have experience of babies and children, through their own life experience or employment
drive and have access to transport (desired)
promote inclusion
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 parent you are matched with.

We’ll introduce you to a young parent whose needs fit the time and support you’re happy to offer, and ask for a two-year commitment so you have time to build a strong, trusting relationship.

The Ohana team will support you throughout this relationship.

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 email us at Ohana@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can call Fionna on 07866 224876, Bev on 07812 323601, or Katy on 07815 021847 during office hours.