Volunteers are an integral part of Kinship, and central to delivering our services and support to all kinship carers.
We believe volunteers are a really positive resource and we appreciate the added value they bring to the work of Kinship through their diverse skills and experience. We will promote opportunities for specific volunteer roles that are inclusive, flexible, challenging, and ambitious, as well as enjoyable.
Read about our current volunteering opportunities at Kinship in England and Wales.
What do our volunteers do?
Our volunteers carry out a range of roles supporting our work with kinship carers. This could be making regular telephone calls to other kinship carers as part of our Someone Like Me programme or being involved in a leading a Support Group. We also offer opportunities to support our campaigning work, or helping to support kinship carers financially by making grant applications on their behalf.
Why volunteer with Kinship?
As a volunteer, the time you give really does matter. Without the support of volunteers, we couldn’t do what we do. If you’d like to help and make a difference to kinship carers and their families, we’d love to hear from you.
Kinship volunteers are a diverse group of people, and we welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and abilities, who are over the age of 18. We welcome and actively encourage volunteers who are or have experience as a kinship carer.
Our volunteering recruitment process at Kinship:
Here is what to expect if you become a Kinship Volunteer. Follow our easy three step volunteering process.
- Send a volunteering application
Once you’ve decided on one of our volunteering roles, you can apply for it online. At the moment we are looking at our roles and how we do things, so we’re only sharing roles where we have a real need. You’ll need to have two references ready as part of the application process.
If you can’t apply online, just get in touch at volunteer@kinship.org.uk
- Meet with us
It’s important that you can have a chat about volunteering with Kinship and how it fits with you. We know it’s a big commitment and we need to get it right for you and our kinship carers. It’s also nice to find out about you and why you want to volunteer!
It’s likely that we’ll give you a call or arrange a time to chat online.
- Induction and training
Following our chat, you’ll be invited to our training dates and also given key information about the role, how we can support you and answer any questions you might have.
This is a two-way process and we’ll be talking to you throughout the induction and training to make sure the role is a good fit for you, and a good fit for us. Once we’re all happy and we’ve completed any pre-volunteering checks (references and DBS if appropriate) then you’re ready to volunteer for Kinship.
A volunteer at Kinship describes what it feels like to volunteer:
“In some small way I may be able to fill a gap or make an impact on the everyday wellbeing of a carer reaching out for help. I don’t know all the answers and can’t hope to resolve the daily challenges that arise in kinship life, but I hope that by being available to listen I may help someone feel less alone, gain strength and take a step closer to feeling in control of their lives.”
If you would like more information please email volunteer@kinship.org.uk
