Volunteer - Family Mentor in Southend-on-Sea

VOLUNTEERING MATTERS; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused volunteer organization in Southend-on-Sea is seeking a Family Mentor to provide support to families facing challenges. As a mentor, you will offer emotional and practical assistance, helping to strengthen family units and improve life outcomes for children. Full training and ongoing support are provided, along with reimbursement for expenses. Ideal candidates will be caring and able to commit to weekly visits for at least six months.

Benefits

Full training and support

Opportunity to develop new skills

Reference for future opportunities

Expense reimbursement

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older, residing in Southend-on-Sea or nearby.
• Commit to weekly visits for a minimum of six months.
• Willing to complete necessary checks and provide references.

Responsibilities

• Support families with children at risk of neglect or harm.
• Meet with families weekly over a minimum six-month period.
• Offer emotional and practical support to parents.

Skills

Good listening skills

Caring and patient

Non-judgemental support

Ability to commit weekly

Job description

Would you like to make a lasting difference in your community? Are you a good listener with a heart for helping families facing real challenges? If so, the Volunteers Supporting Families - Family Mentor programme in Southend-on-Sea needs you.

The programme involves:

• Supporting families with children who are at risk of neglect or harm, or families with existing social care involvement.
• Meeting regularly (once a week) in the family home over a minimum six-month period.
• Offering consistent emotional and practical support: listening, guiding, helping parents build confidence and parenting skills, reducing isolation, navigating day-to-day challenges.
• Working alongside project staff who will match you with a family, train you, and support you throughout.

As a Family Mentor, you'll receive:

• Full training and ongoing support from experienced project staff.
• Opportunities to develop new skills and gain real experience working with families.
• The chance to make a direct, positive impact by helping to keep families together and preventing children entering care.
• Reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including travel.
• A strong reference for future work or volunteering opportunities.

Why it matters: Families in Southend-on-Sea are facing pressures such as domestic violence, mental health challenges, substance misuse, and social isolation. By acting as a steady support person, you'll be part of helping to turn things around - reducing the load on social care, improving life outcomes for children, and offering hope to parents.

To be a Family Mentor, you'll need:

• To be 18 years old or above, living in Southend-on-Sea or nearby.
• To be able to commit to weekly visits for at least six months.
• To be willing to complete necessary checks (DBS/criminal record), and provide references.
• To be caring, patient, reliable: a good listener who can offer non-judgemental support, even when progress is slow.
• To have an interest in helping both children and parents. Personal life experience can be helpful.