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Job description

Barnardo’s is committed to providing ‘Better Outcomes for More Children’. Our children’s services volunteers help the charity to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people and their families. This role provides a great opportunity to join our fantastic children’s services and help make a real difference. We are looking for enthusiastic people who believe in the work that Barnardo’s do and want to let others know about it! **Parent Champions** will champion our services to parents/carers and the local community, on behalf of Barnardo’s, raising awareness of our services and supporting parents/carers to access groups and 1:1 support. Stratford District Children and Family Centres provide activities for under 5's and support for families from pre-birth or with children or young people aged 0-19 (or 25 for young people with additional needs). Parent Champion is a new volunteer role developed across Stratford District Children and Family Centres in partnership with Barnardo’s, CORAM Family and Childcare (UK Charity) and Warwickshire County Council. Coram pioneered the parent champion role as a peer to peer model reaching out to parents who would otherwise miss out on information and the project is based on the idea that parents are the best people to support other parents. We know people are more likely to engage with and listen to other parents, who they can relate to. Parent Champions will have experience of using our services and may have shared the same issues and experiences as the families they are reaching out to. We want all local families to know what support and activities are available to them and support them to feel comfortable to access that support when needed. 
Barnardo's protects, supports and nurtures the UK's most vulnerable children. Barnardo's helps bring out the best in children – no matter who they are or what they have been through. Our volunteers help make this happen.

• Tasks: Providing information, advice and support to individual families, to enable them to achieve the desired outcomes within their support plan.
  
  Supporting parents/carers to access family support networks/groups within their local community, such as toddler groups, health groups.
  
  Collating and evaluating feedback from children, young people and parents.
  
  Signposting families to other local support services - both targeted and universal (where appropriate).
  
  Adhering to Barnardo's policies and procedures at all times, including Barnardo's: Safeguarding; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Health & Safety; Data Protection; Confidentiality; Recording policies and procedures.
  
  Participating fully in training and supervision.
  
  Volunteering within Barnardo's Basis and Values.

• Skills: Reliable, punctual and trustworthy.
  
  Approachable and welcoming.
  
  The ability to communicate and engage with children, young people and families.
  
  Being non-judgmental and positive in their attitude to working with individuals from different backgrounds.
  
  Having some knowledge and understanding of supporting parents and carers, and the issues faced by disadvantaged families.

• Benefits: Full induction and training.
  
  Other training opportunities relevant to the volunteer role.
  
  Regular supervision and support.
  
  Out of pocket expenses agreed in advance.
  
  Access to the Barnardo’s internal vacancy listing.
  
  Our volunteers tell us about lots of other benefits of volunteering including; experience of working with children, young people and families; experience for your CV; supporting your local community; meeting new people; increasing self-confidence; feeling like you are making a difference; improving your health and wellbeing; and a chance to contribute to a worthwhile children’s charity.