Hii I've just applied to do voluntary work with a local group called Home Start where I will be befriending and supporting families who need that extra bit of support.

Do you think this will be good experience or do you think it will look better if I work with midwives or on wards?

I kno any experience is a plus but I'd like to make my personal statement very strong as I'm only applying to 2 universities. What do you all think? I do also have the opportuinity to work on the hospitals as i have had my medical etc. x x x x

I think thats a fab thing to do, Sarah.

Good luck with it x

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Hi Sarah, definatly a good thing to be doing, I know a few students who did home start/ sure start before getting their place. Well done :-) and good luck!

Sounds good to me! Well done

xx

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StudentMidwife.NET Administrator (aka The Welsh One )
PAB Support Worker

Sounds like a brilliant idea to me, let us know how it goes?

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Hi Sarah,
I've been a volunteer with Home Start for two years and have really enjoyed it, I'm going to miss it when I start Uni but I know I won't have the time. The preparation course is really comprehensive and covers all sorts, from child protection, confidentiality, role playing and talks from HV's, Midwives and Social workers about their roles. You will also have the chance to do an accredited version of the course which will give you 3 level 2 OCN credits and then when you have been volunteering for six months you can do an essay type assignment and get 3 level 3 credits (all helps!).

I have really enjoyed my role as a volunteer, it has opened my eyes to some of the problems people face everyday, some which you could never imagine. You will meet every type of person and even learn things like how to step over cat sick without blinking an eye!! Don't ask!
Sometimes you won't have to do anything apart from just being there to listen but it can make a huge difference to a Mum.

The training is also ongoing and you will be offered further courses like domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, first aid, even motivation. I made some really good friends on the preparation course who are a lot like me, working towards a new career, be it in Midwifery, Social work or speech therapy as well as just other mums who want to volunteer.

Its great, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!
Best of Luck!xxx

Wow sounds very intense!! but very interesting at the same time!! really looking forward to it now. Do you know how many hours a week you do the prep course? Just so I can think about childcare.

Thanks x x x

My local scheme do the preparation course one of two ways depending how many people they have on the course. The most usual way is one day a week, usually from 9.30-2.30 (so kids can be taken and picked up from school if needs be) over 10 weeks. If there is less on the course and people are willing they will do an intensive course which is the same hours but two days a week over five weeks. Depending on your local scheme they may give you child care, my scheme didn't, but a friend in a neighbouring scheme was given a choice of place for her child at the nursery in the Sure Start Family centre or the Salvation Army nursery.

I spend about 3-4 hours one day a week with my family, occasionally I may phone them if needed. Your family can only contact you through the scheme coordinator and then you phone them back, this protects your private life as families have been known to phone their volunteer at all times of the day or night.

Being a Home Start volunteer was something really good to talk about on my personal statement and at interview as many aspects of it relate to midwifery, for example you may act as an advocate for your family in certain situations, such as supporting them during a visit from a social worker. Once you are in the scheme you Will get to know more about local things such as Flying Start. You will also get to know some of the local Midwives and Health Visitors and if your really nice the may let you shadow them for a day like I did.

God I sound like I am trying to convert you!

Chunky, that sounds like an absolutely fab opportunity! I just wish there had been something like that in my area, but there isn't! Not in the immediate locality anyway.

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Well you have definitely converted me!!But definitely in a good way!! It sounds amazing. I can't wait to start! Have to wait til October though. I'm sure it shouldn't be too much of a problem to find childcare for one day.

Thanks very, very much x x x x