Parent Helpline Volunteer

The newly developed National Digital Parents Support Service provides digital and telephone support to parents and carers as they face challenges which are impacting on their families day to day lives. The areas of support may include but is not limited to parenting, hardship, isolation, relationship breakdown, domestic abuse, immigration, education, disability and additional needs. Parents and carers will be able to access the service by calling the dedicated free phone helpline, using the text messaging service or by email and will be offered support appropriate to their needs.

The service is available from 6pm – 10pm Monday to Friday and from 10am – 1pm Saturday and Sunday.
As the first point of contact Parent Helpline Volunteers provide a range of support including listening and providing empathy to parents who are struggling with the day to day pressures of caring for children and managing family commitments; referring on for support from either the Virtual Parent Befrienders or Virtual Volunteer Counsellors who can provide 6 – 10 sessions of 1:1 support, or the Virtual Expert Volunteers who provide specific information and guidance on topics including housing, health, special educational needs and disabilities, mental health or education.

The volunteers provide parents with a listening ear when most other support services are closed. Using their existing skills and learning from additional training they share coping strategies and provide emotional support while considering whether the parent or carer requires additional, ongoing support.

For any questions please email dpss@family-action.org.uk
For further information and to apply please visit our website on www.family-action.org.uk/volunteer