After Mandy and Michelle completed the Parents 1st volunteer taster course in Autumn 2020, they both decided to enrol onto the full volunteer training.
We're following their journey as they move through the training and support their first parents. In the videos below, Mandy and Michelle give an insight into each step and what they've learnt along the way.
Taster course
The taster course gives potential volunteers an insight into what volunteering will be like before committing to the full training. Mandy and Michelle share what's involved.
Full training
Once volunteers have completed the taster course they can choose to carry on with the full training. Mandy and Michelle share what the training covers in their weekly videos.
Supporting mum
When training is complete, volunteers get matched with mums. Find out how Mandy gets on with supporting her first mum as we follow her through the process...
Step 1 - Is volunteering for you?
The Taster Course
Mandy and Michelle share why they joined and what they learnt...
Interview for the full training course
Both Mandy and Michelle decided they'd like to enrol onto the full training course. Here they share what happened next...
Step 2 - Volunteer Training
Week 1
Mandy shares how she got on during the first session of the full training.
Week 2
Mandy talks about how important communication and listening skills are in peer support.
Week 3
This week, the trainee volunteers learnt about supporting mums through a healthy pregnancy. Michelle shares how this week's session went.
Week 4
Policies and procedures aren't always the most exciting topic but Mandy and Michelle thought this was 'the best session yet'!
Week 6
This week's session was all about safeguarding. Mandy and Michelle also reveal how they feel about the news that they'll be matched with a mum very soon.
Week 7
This week Mandy and Michelle learnt about how to support mum to make informed decisions and choices about infant feeding.
Week 8
This week, the trainee volunteers discussed how to support a mum through labour and birth. Mandy shares how this week's session went...
Week 10
This week, the trainee volunteers discussed supporting mum through birth in more detail. They discussed birth plans, caesareans, pain management and more.
Week 11
This week, our trainees discuss the difference between the baby blues and postnatal depression, how to spot the signs that things aren't quite right and what to do if they become concerned about the parents they're supporting.
Week 12
This week was all about recognising baby's needs so the volunteers can support parents in the early days after birth. Mandy shares what she learnt about infant development in this week's session...
Week 13
Michelle explains how this week's sessions explored their own personal experiences as a parent and the evidence based resources they can share with parents to enable them to support parents practically once baby has arrived.
Week 14
This week explored feeding, bonding and attachment in more detail. Mandy shares what she learnt in this week's session...
Supporting mum
Find out how Mandy gets on with meeting her first mum...