About GoldStar 
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| Leeds Homestart | Supporting families with young children experiencing difficulties |
Home-Start Leeds is an independently registered charity, which supports parents of young children in providing their children with the very best start in life. Volunteers offer families emotional support, guidance and encouragement, together with some practical help during periods in which they are experiencing difficulties.
The project aims to champion inclusive good practice in the promotion, selection and development of Home Start volunteers and places particular emphasis on increasing the diversity of volunteers to reflect the communities in which the project delivers services, many of which are characterised by high levels of social deprivation.
Volunteers are carefully recruited, prepared, trained and supported to visit families in their own homes. Volunteers deliver all services, with paid staff providing volunteer support.
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Home Start has been successful at breaking down the barriers to volunteering in different communities. One of the approaches Home Start has used for achieving this has been the development of relationships with a network of local service providers over the last six years, encouraging them to highlight the opportunities for volunteering amongst their own clients.
Home Start provides support to volunteers at the initial recruitment stage, including help with completion of the initial application form and ensures the focus of recruitment is on what is needed to undertake the volunteer role, rather than previous experience or qualifications.
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Potential volunteers undertake a 10-week structured induction process prior to recruitment, linked to NVQ accreditation. An integral part of this induction process involves the detailed matching of participants to suitable families.
Home Start actively encourages volunteers to progress into further training and/or employment. A structured link has been developed with Leeds Metropolitan University that enables those that want to use the 10-week induction process and associated NVQ accreditation as a stepping stone to a degree in Social Work at Leeds Metropolitan University. 8 volunteers have successfully completed this route.
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