Helpline Volunteer - Children 1st Parentline
Edinburgh
What will I be doing?
Volunteering for Children 1st Parentline is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children and families across Scotland.
Children 1st Parentline volunteers provide support to adults by phone, webchat and text offering a kind and skilled listening ear and time to talk about anything to do with children. They build supportive relationships and work alongside individuals to help them think through what will work best for their families, keeping children at the centre and being mindful of the challenges families face today.
A caring, kind and non-judgemental response can make a real difference to someone who wants to talk. No previous experience or formal qualifications are necessary however good communication skills are essential to enable you to listen to and support those who contact Children 1st Parentline. You will become part of a friendly, supportive team where trained staff are always on hand to provide support and guidance.
We provide a comprehensive introductory training course as well as ongoing support and opportunities to develop in the role. Volunteers are able to claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for travel and costs incurred as part of the volunteering role.
The helpline is open Monday-Friday 9am-9pm and 9am-12 noon Saturday and Sunday throughout the year. We ask our volunteers to give a weekly commitment of around 4 hours and there are a range of options for days/times based at the Children 1st Edinburgh office.
This is what some of our volunteers have said about volunteering with Children 1st Parentline:
‘Training to be a Children 1st Parentline call taker and all the subsequent time volunteering has really helped me build some skills which I wish I'd built years ago. Many of these I'd call 'life skills' which I can usefully apply in many different parts of my life.’
‘If you feel that you may have been able to help someone - even in a very small way - it makes you feel that you are doing something positive in that person’s life.’
‘No matter how many calls I have taken, I still find that there is no such thing as two that are identical. Every person is an individual with their own particular issues and this keeps you interested in the role.’
Training
Our next training course will run on the following dates from the Children 1st office, Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh:
- Sat 20th April – 9.30am-4.30pm
- Sat 27th April – 9.30am-4.30pm
- Sat 4th May – 9.30am-4.30pm
- Thurs 9th May – 5.45pm-9.00pm
- Thurs 16th May – 5.45pm-9.00pm
Further information
If you would like to find out more about the role or have any questions please email volunteer@children1st.org.uk
To apply, please download and complete the application form, criminal convictions self declaration and equal opportunities monitoring form (A, B and C) and email to: volunteer@children1st.org.uk.
At Children 1st we are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team that represents all communities across Scotland and creating a culture where we are all genuinely able to be ourselves and participate and thrive without prejudice or barriers. We aim to proactively develop anti-racist and inclusive approaches throughout our work, and we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, marginalised groups, and individuals with multiple experiences of marginalisation, who reflect our values.