Devon and Somerset
Children’s Centres’
Volunteering Scheme
2009–2012
A better childhood. For every child.
www.childrenssociety.org.uk
This legacy report has been produced to celebrate the impact of the Devon and
Somerset Children's Centres’ Volunteering Scheme. Thanks to funding by the
Department of Health, this project has changed the way The Children’s Society in
Devon and Somerset has involved volunteers in its children’s centres.
Our Children’s Centres in Devon
and Somerset
Our children’s centres in Devon and
Somerset give babies, young children
under five and families the support
they need to thrive.
Each centre brings children, parents,
grandparents, stepparents, relatives
and carers together to learn and play.
Children enjoy fun and educational
sessions, and we also work closely
with parents and carers to provide the
support they need, particularly when
facing challenges and difficulties.
Adults benefit from access to a wealth
of support and advice on health, wellbeing, education and finding work.
The Children’s Society began to deliver children’s centre services in Exmouth and
Honiton in 2007. Wiveliscombe Children’s Centre opened in May 2008 and includes
The Paddocks Nursery, a 45-place daycare facility open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to
Friday. East Devon and West Somerset are perceived as affluent areas but there are
pockets of deprivation. In addition, Exmouth, Honiton and Wiveliscombe Children’s
Centres have large ‘reach areas’ covering a wide geographical range (seaside towns,
market towns and rural areas).
It is therefore a challenge to engage effectively with all children under the age of five,
and volunteering opportunities are a key part of our centres. Volunteering helps
parents and other members of the community learn new skills, enhances the support
provided at the centres and ensures that centres are hubs of their communities.
The success of the Devon and Somerset Children's Centres’ Volunteering
Scheme
The Devon and Somerset Children's Centres’ Volunteering Scheme has been able to
play a key role in:
– increasing the number and diversity of people who get involved in voluntary
activities that benefit their local communities
– supporting the development of good volunteering policy and management at
a local level
– providing support to local people, improving their health and well-being, and
complementing and enhancing the services of statutory and voluntary health
and social care providers.
In addition, we have been able to recruit several male volunteers in sessions, in
gardening activities and also in a counselling role, which is particularly good as
positive male role models are underrepresented in children’s centres.
Another achievement is that 61% of volunteers are also parents who use the service.
In addition, we have gained much support from several local organisations who
provided volunteer support for the Exmouth Children’s Centre Garden Project and
referred many potential volunteers.
A major reflection of the project’s success was the Ofsted Report for Exmouth
Children’s Centre (March 2011). The main findings were extremely positive regarding
the involvement of volunteers:
‘A strength of the centre is the significant number of parents and carers who
contribute to its work as trained volunteers. An enthusiastic volunteer coordinator has
ensured that these volunteers receive appropriate training.
Peer volunteers are able to build on their own experiences to provide support for
parents on feeding and weaning their babies. Over the last two years this has helped
to increase the proportion of mothers in the local area breastfeeding their child.
In addition, some suitably trained volunteers help to improve the emotional well-being
of a number of users by providing regular counselling sessions.’
Ofsted Report for Exmouth Children’s Centre, (March 2011)
Playing their part
The Devon and Somerset Children's Centres’ Volunteering Scheme has enabled more
local people from different walks of life to become involved in delivering services
alongside staff at each of the three children’s centres at Exmouth, Honiton and
Wiveliscombe. These voluntary roles vary depending on the needs of each particular
children’s centre, and on the successful recruitment of suitable volunteers to match
the roles.
The support of our many volunteers provides more diverse skills and abilities to
complement the delivery of services by staff teams. The majority of our volunteers
are trained to support the Breastfeeding Peer Supporter Project. Our next largest
number of volunteers support specific sessions delivered at our centres. Some
volunteers who have appropriate training support our counselling service by providing
counselling to clients of the centre. Volunteer roles are publicised and then matched
to willing and able people, and can vary from garden maintenance to helping in our
day nursery. One volunteer’s role was to play the violin at a session!
Making a difference to children and parents
Our volunteers across three children’s centres support the delivery of group activities
to local families/carers with children aged five years or younger in a variety of roles.
Here is a list of the sessions/groups they support:
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Summer programme and outreach groups
Garden maintenance at two of the children’s centres
Twotime and Threetime
Childminders Network
New Baby Group and Young Parents Group
Stay & Play
Establishing Breastfeeding & Breastfeeding Cafe
Step-by-Step
Peeps – Peer Early Education Programme.
Get Up & Go
Me and My Dad
Little Explorers and Toddle Time
Little Dinos
Treasure Baskets
Bounce & Rhyme
Breastfeeding Peer Support
As part of our children’s centre’s remit to increase breastfeeding
rates across our reach areas, a Breastfeeding Support Project was
developed, which currently has twenty-seven volunteers!
The volunteers are experienced mothers recruited from the local community who are
trained to deliver Breastfeeding Peer Support to local mothers in each of the three
children’s centres involved in the project.
‘Without the volunteer peer supporters, breastfeeding support in Exmouth would lack
a friendly face, a listening ear and a lovingly made cup of tea!
The mums who attend our groups regularly comment on the feeling of warmth at the
group. It is brilliant that, having so many volunteers, mums can truly feel listened to.
Each volunteer takes time to sit with a mum and listen to her story, to truly
empathise with what she is feeling and to offer back knowledge gained from her peer
support training.
Without support to breastfeed many, many mums give up long before they want to.
We hope that by providing a safe space to ask questions and seek support, mums and
babies can continue their breastfeeding journey together for many months.’
Nicky Nicholls
Breastfeeding Project Coordinator
Counselling service
A free counselling service is offered to users of both Exmouth and Honiton Children’s
Centres. Requests from clients clearly demonstrated a need for the children’s centres
to provide the service.
The counselling service is initially offered as one session a week for six weeks, to be
reviewed regularly by the counsellor, who will signpost to other agencies if
appropriate.
Feedback from volunteers about their experience in the children’s centres
‘I love being a volunteer and giving back to the service that has helped me so much.’
‘New experiences and giving back.’
‘Love working with children, very rewarding to see their progress.’
‘Meeting new people, making friends. It’s good to know you may be able to help
someone and listen to them if they have a problem.’
‘I feel like I am giving something back to the local community.’
‘I enjoy mixing with lots of new people. It’s a great feeling to know you have done
something positive in the world!’
‘Meet lots of mums and give out helpful information.’
‘Regain my grown-up self.’
‘Meeting lovely people.’
‘Confidence and meeting new people.’
‘Gained new knowledge and different role to my previous experience - this has
encouraged me to do more volunteering for another organisation.’
‘It’s lovely working with people and helping mums to breastfeed successfully and
giving them invaluable support.’
Volunteer profiles
Robert Blanch
Volunteer role: Handyman/ Gardener at Wiveliscombe Children’s Centre
Time given per week: six hours spread over two mornings
What does your role involve?
I maintain the gardens: weeding, planting, painting and fixing any of the children’s
play equipment.
What does it mean to you to volunteer?
Being a volunteer means a lot to me. I feel like I’m using my skills and training that
I’ve gained in the past and using them where they are needed.
How do you interact with the children?
Whilst I'm working in the garden the children often want to know what I'm doing, so
in the best way I can I get them involved and explain how to do things and why I do
it.
What do you enjoy about being a volunteer?
I'm a person that loves being outside, so an opportunity to work and help maintain
The Children’s Society’s fantastic garden is hard to resist, and it’s great to pass on
some of my gardening knowledge to the staff and, of course, to the children.
Sarah Croft
Volunteer role: Session volunteer
Time given per week: approximately 8.5 hours
Date started: September 2010 on a Job Centre placement
What does your role involve?
Setting up the sessions for the children and carers. Ensuring that everybody is safe
and cared for. Playing and being creative with the children, parents and carers.
What does it mean to you to volunteer?
It gives me a valuable role in working with the children who take you on amazing
‘journeys’. It’s great fun and better than sitting at home! It builds my self-esteem.
How do you interact with parent and their babies?
Through playing, play dough, creating something out of blocks, drawing with chalks
outside, stories and lots of fun.
What do you enjoy about being a volunteer?
Everything I’ve described above, and working with a fantastic team here at the
children’s centre.
Teresa West
Volunteer role: Counsellor
Time given per week: Between two and five hours
Time given to date: Approximately 250 hours
What does your role involve?
Offering a confidential counselling service to the parents and families of young
children.
What does it mean to you to volunteer?
Being a volunteer gave me a placement during training. Now I’m qualified I realise
how rewarding it is to provide a voluntary service which would otherwise be
unavailable to many people in the community.
How do you interact with the children?
I actually don't interact with the children, as it would be unprofessional and unethical
to counsel with children present. As a counsellor my focus is to work with the parents
and family, not directly with the children, but to support family life.
What do you enjoy about being a volunteer?
Having trained for several years to become a counsellor, it means a lot to me to be
part of a dedicated team, helping to support family life.
Sophie Luxton
Volunteer role: Bosom Buddy (Breastfeeding Peer Supporter)
Time given per month: approximately eight hours
What does your role involve?
My role involves talking to mums about their breastfeeding experiences, offering
advice and support and guiding them along their breastfeeding journey.
What does it mean to you to volunteer?
Volunteering as a Bosom Buddy is something I feel very strongly about. They helped
me so much when I needed it so I really wanted to help them give back to others the
same invaluable support I received.
How do you interact with parent and their babies?
I interact with parents and babies in a sensitive and caring way. I make sure I am
always inviting, considerate, friendly and approachable. I also make sure I am being a
good listener.
What do you enjoy about being a volunteer?
I enjoy everything about being a volunteer. The training I have had has enabled me
to give other mums the help and support that I once needed. I love that just two
hours a week of my time can have such a positive affect on people’s lives. I also enjoy
working with such a great bunch of selfless people.
How has being a
volunteer made a
difference to you?
Without a doubt being a
volunteer has changed my
life. I absolutely love what I
do and I plan to do this for a
long time to come.
Being a volunteer has
taught me that to give a little
bit of your time and effort
can make a huge difference.
Sophie Luxton (top right) with her graduate Breastfeeding Peer Supporters
Pip Thomas
Volunteer role: Session volunteer at Honiton Children’s Centre
Time given per month: approximately 10 hours
What does your role involve?
Looking after children whose parents are in counselling and helping out at sessions.
What does it mean to you to volunteer?
Putting my experience/training to good use to help children and families.
How do you interact with parent and their babies?
By talking to them and playing with children and babies.
What do you enjoy about being a volunteer?
I feel like I'm making a difference also that what I‘m doing is valued; great team
working at The Children's Society.
How has being a volunteer made a difference to you?
It has improved my confidence, and my experience of working with younger children.
Photograph modelled for The Children's Society | © Alan Hamer
The Prince's Trust Team next to the fire pit built as part of their community project
at Exmouth Children's Centre sensory garden
Safeguarding for all
Safeguarding training is essential for ensuring safe practice throughout The Children's
Society. Safe practice is core to The Children Society’s values and principles. With this
in mind, safeguarding training for all volunteers is a requirement, not an option. The
Volunteers Coordinator and Programme Manager have delivered nine courses across
the three centres, to over seventy volunteers and around 10 staff members.
Together we can achieve more
As a project we have enjoyed good working relationships with several statutory
services, local community organisations, educational institutions and also a few local
businesses in a variety of ways. These local relationships have been mutually
beneficial. Our grateful thanks go to all the organisations we have worked with,
including: Access to Employment, Job Centre Plus, Kingsmead Secondary
School, Devon Primary Care Trust and Prospects Ltd.
In addition, the Exmouth Children’s Centre Sensory Garden Project was developed
through the hard work and commitment of volunteers from St Loyes Foundation,
Wilson’s Paints, The Prince’s Trust Team from Exeter College, Devon County
Council apprentices and Business in the Community’s employees’ scheme. We
also thank Direct Taxis, and Devon County Councillor Brenda Taylor.
Staff feedback on the impact of volunteers’ support
• ‘Improves the quality of services we provide to local families.’
• ‘They are a fantastic help, a vital part of our team. All the users and staff
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and also the volunteers themselves, appear to gain from their
volunteering.’
‘Enables staff to support most vulnerable families. Enables us to facilitate
families’ use of services. Helps build bridges with the community.’
‘Parents and children see them as part of the team, who are there to
engage and support them. Also providing added value, ie activities that
the centre would not be able to provide by only using paid staff.’
‘I think families have a more one-to-one service where there are volunteers
present as we have more time to listen to individuals.’
Feedback from Children’s Centre’s Managers
‘Volunteers play an important role at the two Exmouth Children's Centres. Our
volunteers support staff in a range of activities such as our universal services,
administrative tasks, and our free counselling service; thanks to them, we are able to
provide services to a wider number of families. We are pleased to be able to offer
learning and development opportunities to local college students, and to volunteers
who have been able to give the required hours to undertake the diploma qualification.’
Rachel Loram
Exmouth & District Children’s Centre Manager
‘Volunteers at Wiveliscombe Children's Centre and The Paddocks Nursery really add to
the staff team. They offer children the opportunity to interact with adults they might
otherwise not meet, eg those in wheelchairs. They help the staff team by being the
extra pairs of hands we need to offer more activities to children and families. As my
staff team tell me, good volunteers are absolutely invaluable.’
Steph Curry
Wiveliscombe Centre Manager
‘Volunteers at Honiton Children’s Centre enhance the opportunities we are able to
offer to families. Some have provided additional support in groups at the centre,
participating fully in planning and bringing with them new ideas for group activities.
Others have volunteered with us as counsellors, which has enabled us to offer this
valuable service for free to families accessing the centre. Other committed volunteers
have allowed the centre to offer childcare for counselling but providing this on a 1:1
basis within group settings. Good volunteers are a valuable resource to the centre and
an integral part of our team, helping our centre to offer all families the opportunities
for play, training and support that we want to provide in the area.’
Vikki Duffy
Honiton & District Children’s Centre
Devon and Somerset Children's Centres’ Volunteering Scheme
Staff comments
‘When I joined The Children’s Society as Volunteers Coordinator I was eager to understand how the children’s
centres worked and how I could provide them with
much-needed volunteers.
Over time the project has developed a culture of
involving volunteers and has embedded practical
systems and good practice in recruiting, inducting,
training and managing volunteers in each centre.
I am sure that the legacy of the project will continue to
benefit the children and families attending the children’s
centres.
I have enjoyed being part of each of the different staff teams and it’s been a pleasure
to work with the many people that have become valued volunteers. I’d like to say an
enormous thank you to all the people and organisations that have contributed so
much to the project.
I am passionate about the mutual benefits of volunteering for all those involved and
am proud to have been part of such a successful project that has made a difference to
so many people.’
Rhonda Jones
Volunteers Co-ordinator
‘I have been the administration assistant for the project
for the last 18 months and, as someone who has
volunteered in a variety of settings, I understand how
volunteering is rewarding and satisfying and enables you
to give something back to the community.
My main role has been to process the volunteers'
recruitment paperwork and make relevant checks in
accordance with the requirements and standards of
The Children's Society.’
Sarah Westacott
Admin Assistant
‘I was delighted when I heard in January 2009 that the
proposal for a three-year Department of Health
Opportunities for Volunteering grant to promote
volunteering in our children's centres in Exmouth, Honiton
and Wiveliscombe had been successful.
During the three years of the scheme, I have enjoyed
meeting the wide variety of people who have willingly and
freely given their time and energy to support the work of
the children's centres. The presence of volunteers has
enabled the children's centres to provide an extensive
range of services and activities that have helped make a
real difference to the lives of children and their families.
Although the scheme is now coming to an end, The Children's Society is committed to
continuing to have volunteers supporting our children’s centres services and activities
as we are very clear as to the benefits that volunteers bring.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who have given their
time in Exmouth, Honiton and Wiveliscombe.’
Richard Nobes
Programme Manager
The challenges
At the initial stages of the project it was quite a learning experience incorporating
volunteers to meet the individual needs of each centre staff team. The biggest
challenge by far – although very necessary - has been applying The Children’s
Society’s rigorous and robust Volunteer Policy. Providing the evidence required for the
Criminal Records Bureau checks, and also the appropriate volunteer references, has
been an ongoing challenge. Unfortunately this has been one of the greatest barriers to
getting volunteers started in their role in a timely manner.
At the outset it was intended that the day-to-day management of the volunteers
would be the responsibility of the children’s centre, not the co-ordinator of the
scheme. This created some challenges with regard to how the volunteer was ‘handed
over’ following their induction into their role, and how they were managed after that.
Another challenge was to attract men to volunteer in the children’s centres, usually a
female-dominated environment. However, with perseverance we have been able to
recruit male volunteers in each centre.
The Legacy
Sadly the project funding has ended; however, solid foundations have been built
which have enabled each staff team to become more familiar with what it means to
work alongside volunteers and to reap the benefits that each person brings - namely
their unique skills and abilities, which complement those of staff members.
The Devon and Somerset Children's Centres’ Volunteering Scheme has made a
positive impact on our service delivery and has embedded good practice in the
recruitment, induction, training and management of volunteers. We are delighted that
the positive impact of this scheme has been reported by volunteers, staff and also by
parents and children who use the children’s centres.
Photograph modelled for The Children's Society | © Alan Hamer
At The Children’s Society, family is one of our key
priorities. We want to create a society where children
and young people are valued, respected and happy.
A good start in life is a sure foundation for achieving this.
Our Sure Start children’s centres give babies, young
children under five and families the support they need
to thrive. Each centre brings parents, grandparents,
step-parents, relatives and carers together to learn
and play.
Children enjoy fun, educational sessions while adults
benefit from a wealth of courses and advice on health,
well-being, education and finding work. Volunteering
opportunities help parents learn new skills, all the while
strengthening the bonds that make families grow.
Charity Registration No. 221124 | Photographs © The Children’s Society | 8133/02/12
A better childhood. For every child.