From mentoring young people to helping families build more positive relationships, over 500 volunteers have supported some of Hampshire’s most vulnerable children and families over the past decade.

With Volunteers’ Week starting next week (2-8 June), Hampshire County Council is celebrating ten years of its Children and Families Volunteers service, which provides a range of support to help children and families become more resilient and achieve positive long-term outcomes.

Currently more than 90 families are being supported by 190 volunteers, including Independent Visitors who act as trusted adults to children in care, Mentors who give one to one support to young people, and Community Buddies who support children with disabilities to access different activities in the local community. Other roles include Family Support volunteers who provide emotional and practical support to families facing a difficult time, and volunteers who meet with children who have recently returned from being missing, to help identify any additional support they may need to prevent this from happening again in future.

Councillor Roz Chadd, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Children’s Services, said: “Many vulnerable children and families will have a range of professionals working with them. Our volunteers provide a different and impartial relationship outside of that, helping children and families to develop the tools they need to deal with life’s challenges successfully. This can prevent families’ needs from escalating further and in some cases, means that they no longer require any outside help at all. It is therefore no exaggeration to say that our volunteers’ support can be truly life-changing, and I wish to thank them all for the incredible difference they make.

“We always need more volunteers to support our critical work; if you are keen to give something back to your local community, please do visit our website to explore the different opportunities available.”

One parent who has benefited from Family Support, commented: “Our volunteer was the best. She was easy to get along with and felt like part of the family.  At the beginning our child found it awkward – she was having a difficult time. Our volunteer gave her the time she needed and was always happy to do the things our child wanted to do. I think it’s an invaluable service and gave us the respite we needed at times – it was a godsend.”

Retiree and volunteer Alan has described the benefits he himself has experienced since leaving employment and joining the volunteering community. He said: “Volunteering has been a win-win because it’s rewarding for me, and I get a lot out of it. But the people I’m supporting also benefit from it and can move on after our volunteering is finished, to enjoy their lives and with a bit less support.”

The Children and Families Volunteers service forms part of a wider range of volunteering opportunities across the County Council, with flexibility to offer just a few hours of your time or to volunteer more regularly. Options include helping to care for the authority’s country parks and volunteering with the Home Library Service, which delivers books to the homes of people who are unable to access the library due to ill-health, disability or caring responsibilities.

Visit the County Council’s website to view the full range of volunteering options on offer.