Volunteer Driver

Regardless of whether a person is a first-time parent or is experienced, at Home-Start Ards, Comber & Peninsula Area (ACAPA) we know and understand that being a parent has never been easy.  It can be overwhelming, frustrating and lonely at times but that’s where we come in.   Home-Start helps families from ALL walks of life and backgrounds, who have at least one child under the age of five and would like support with the stresses and strains of life or support through a challenging time. At Home-Start ACAPA we believe 'Childhood Can't Wait'. 

Purpose of the Role:

• To help families access the Scheme's Services.
• To be a welcoming and friendly driver, collecting and escorting our families (parents & children or children only) to and from our various service and activities.

Main Tasks:

• To collect families from their homes and transport to our regular Family Groups, Respite Play Group or other adhoc activities at agreed times
• Where required, to assist families into the venue upon arrival
• To chat to the family on route, helping them to feeling welcome and comfortable
• To collect families/children at the agreed time and escort home again

Skills/experience required:

• Friendly, positive, and approachable
• Ability to be empathetic, patient, and calm
• Good communication skills
• Committed to upholding confidentiality
• Good time keeping and reliable
• Clean driving licence and access to a safe, well-maintained, and insured car
• Preferably have parenting experience or have previously worked with children
• Practice Health & Safety at all times while families are in your care

Location:

Covering our Scheme areas, your role will make an impact in your local community. Our weekly Family Groups meet in both Newtownards and Greyabbey.  Our Respite Play Group operates weekly and from our Greyabbey Premises. Families availing of these support services come from postcode areas BT22 and BT23 (i.e. Ards Peninsula (all areas), Newtownards, Ballygowan, Conlig, Comber and Killinchy).  We would welcome drivers from those areas. 

All of our Volunteer Drivers must:

• Commit to our volunteer training programme (provided free of charge)
• Undergo an enhanced criminal records check (Access NI)
• Be able to commit to supporting at least once a week (approx 3 - 4 hours each week) N.B. Our Respite Play Group would need drivers to pick up children around 10am, then return to the Scheme (Greyabbey) by 1.20pm to transport children back to their home. 
• Acknowledge all Scheme Policies & sign a Code of Conduct annually

Mileage and role related 'out of pocket' expenses will be reimbursed.