Family Wellbeing Volunteer - East Renfrewshire

Children First is Scotland’s national children’s charity. We stand up for children, keep them safe and support them to recover from trauma and abuse through our national and local services. 

Our East Renfrewshire Family Wellbeing Service provides tailored support for families, including emotional, practical and financial help. It focuses on strengthening relationships, building resilience and supporting young people to feel more confident. We also help families stay in control of important decisions by bringing their wider support networks together.

Volunteering with us is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children and families in East Renfrewshire.

''Through volunteering with Children First I have learned a lot about myself and my capabilities. Each day is an opportunity to develop my skills, and support those in need within the community. It is extremely rewarding to know that you have actively made a positive difference within someone’s life.'' (Children First Volunteer)

What will I be doing?

We know that safe, supportive and trusting relationships are an essential part of building families’ confidence, resilience and wellbeing. Our volunteers build relationships with families in the following ways:

·      Befriending:  you would build a positive 1 to 1 relationship with a child or young person and supporting them to take part in a range of activities within their community and to build their confidence and self-esteem. What you do together will depend on the interests of the child and could include taking them to a local park, art and craft activities, attending events in the community and much more.

·       Parent Mentoring: you would develop a trusting 1 to 1 relationship with a parent/carer with the aim of helping them to increase their confidence and promote good mental-health and well-being. What you do together will be based on individual needs and interests and could include support to attend activities in the local community and help with attending appointments.

·       Supporting Family Wellbeing:  you’ll form a trusting relationship with parents/carers and their children and provide support for the whole family within their home and out in their community. How you spend your time will be different for each family but could include encouraging play, helping with routines and practical tasks, joining them in community activities and assisting with appointments or events.

We will explore further what families need and the skills and qualities you could bring to one of these roles at interview and during training and induction. Please see the volunteer role description attached below for more details. 

What training and support will I get?

We provide a comprehensive introductory training course that will equip you with the skills and knowledge that you need. Our next training course will run on the following dates Weds 18^th Feb – 6.00pm-9.00pm

·       Weds 25^th Feb – 6.00pm-9.00pm

·       Weds 4^th March – 6.00pm-9.00pm

·       Weds 11^th March – 6.00pm-9.00pm

·       Weds 18^th March – 6.00pm-9.00pm

·       Weds 25^th March – 6.00pm-9.00pm

The training is being run jointly with our services in Glasgow and Renfrewshire and will run from the Mile End Centre, 30 Seedhill Road, Paisley, PA11SA (we can provide support with reasonable travel expenses to and from the training venue).

On successful completion of the initial training you will become part of a friendly and supportive team and

will be provided with ongoing support from a named member of staff. You will also be able to claim reasonable travel and other costs so you’re not out of pocket while volunteering.

What will I get from volunteering?

Volunteering with us is more than just giving us your time, we want you to gain from it as well. Volunteering is a great way to build your confidence, learn new skills, meet new people, and make a real difference to children and families — all while enhancing your wellbeing and gaining valuable experience. We will take time to get to know you and understand what you want to achieve and, where we can, offer you opportunities to develop in the role.

“Training to be a Children First volunteer and all the subsequent time volunteering has really helped me build some skills which I wish I'd built years ago. Many of these I'd call 'life skills', things which I can usefully apply in many different parts of my life.” (Children First Volunteer)

What do you need from me?

You don’t need to have any specific previous experience or formal qualifications and full training is provided. We are looking for people with some understanding of issues affecting children and families who have good communication skills and can build positive relationships. The nature of the role means that we need volunteers to be age 18 or over.

Volunteers are required to be members of the PVG Scheme for this role.  This will not cost you anything and we will support you to apply for this.

We ask you to be able to commit to volunteering for 2-4 hours a week for at least a year and to be available weekdays after school time and potentially have some flexibility for times during the day.

What do I need to do next?

If you would like to find out more about the role or have any questions please get in touch via volunteer@children1st.org.uk - we’d love to hear from you.

To apply please complete the application pack below and return to volunteer@children1st.org.uk and we will be in touch about next steps.

Closing date: Monday 9th February 2026