Compass Support is looking for volunteers who want to make a positive difference to the lives of families on Castle Vale.

Compass Support, the charitable subsidiary of The Pioneer Group secured £75,000 earlier this year, from the HS2 Community and Environment Fund to support families across Castle Vale through a family coaching project called On Track Family Support.

As part of the project, Compass Support is recruiting 15 Parent Champion Volunteers who will offer information and advice to parents, carers and families about activities and services in the local area. Parent Champions will also be supported to put on community events and activities such as family fun days. The Parent Champion Volunteers will be fully trained and will receive on-going support.

The Parent Champions will play an important role in helping to spread the word to families in the local area about the free Family Coaching Service and the other services provided by Compass Support.

Shamsa Mughal, Support Services Team Leader at Compass Support, commented on how local residents are getting involved:

One parent who is interested in becoming a volunteer wants to look at what’s available for children with autism in the local area.

We are also keen to spread the word about our Family Coaching Service, where we provide an independent assessment of the family situation and work with the family to develop an action plan to help get things back on the right track.

Family situations that the expert coaching team can help with include: improving family relations, addressing anxiety, coping with stresses like money worries and job loss, and developing parenting skills. The team can also connect families to expert services, such as money advice and benefits.

While some volunteers have already eagerly signed up, there are still spaces for parents and carers who would like to get involved.

The HS2 Community and Environment Fund supports local communities that are demonstrably disrupted by the construction of Phase One of the brand new high speed railways which is being built between London and the West Midlands. The Fund is administered by community charity, Groundwork UK.

If you can spare a few hours a week and you want to find out more about  becoming a Parent Champion Volunteer contact Shamsa Mughal on 0121 748 0892