Family Support - Group Helper (Support for Neurodiverse Families – Isle of Wight)

Barnardo’s is committed to providing ‘Better Outcomes for More Children’. Our children’s services volunteers help the charity to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people and their families. This role provides a great opportunity to join our fantastic children’s services and help make a real difference.

Navigating family life with a child who is neurodivergent can be challenging for some.

Hampshire and IOW Support for Neurodiverse Families offers a range of evidence-based skills-building programmes (face-to-face & digitally) to support parents /carers of children aged 3-17 with emotional or behavioural needs.

Want to help? • Are you interested in, or do you have lived-experience of, neurodiversity? • Do you want to make a positive difference for families experiencing a difficult time in their lives? • Are you reliable, empathetic & committed? • Would you like to be part of a unique, friendly and passionate community at Barnardo’s? • Are you able to spare 2-3 hours each week during term time?

Yes? Then you sound like just the person for us!

We are looking for volunteers with a passion to support parents at our groups which might include a listening ear, emotional support, or signposting.

Face-to-face groups: Help make sure the group runs smoothly by supporting the facilitators in setting up the sessions, making drinks and welcoming people in.

Digital groups: Monitor the chat function and look out for parents’ reactions on screen to ensure the facilitators capture everyone’s voice.

Our groups run term-time-only Monday – Friday during school hours. Morning sessions 09.30 – 11.30am/ Afternoon sessions 12.30 – 2.30pm.

We run additional evening groups online Monday – Thursday 6-8pm.

Courses take place across Hampshire & IOW and run from 6-12 weeks with each session lasting around 2 hours each week.