Volunteer With Us - Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support

We love our volunteers!

Their passion, energy, empathy and ideas are crucial to our charity and we couldn’t do what we do without them.

Volunteer with us!

Are you passionate about supporting mothers and parents on their breastfeeding journey?

Are you looking for a meaningful way to make a positive impact in your community?

Our volunteers are the heart and soul of OBS. From providing a warm welcome to offering skilled breastfeeding support to working behind the scenes, every role is valued and impactful. Join our team of dedicated volunteers and become a part of our friendly breastfeeding support charity.

“I became a volunteer after receiving help from OBS for my son during the first couple weeks of his life. Having the help and support was invaluable and enabled me to reach my breastfeeding goals. The experience made me feel passionate about breastfeeding support.”

Chloe, OBS peer supporter

Who can volunteer?

Anyone over the age of 18
We value diversity in our volunteers and welcome applications from all sorts of people, from all backgrounds
You will need to have an enhanced DBS check

What roles can I do?

Peer Supporter Volunteer – giving families basic breastfeeding support at sessions
Host Volunteer – giving families a warm welcome when they arrive at sessions
General Volunteer – helping behind the scenes on jobs such as fundraising

If you have a specialist skill or experience that you think may be useful then please email us.

Two mothers sitting with their babies with a volunteer looking down at the youngest baby

Our commitment to you

We believe that everyone has the right to access the support and resources they need to breastfeed successfully. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that values diversity and recognises the unique experiences and needs of each individual.

We are committed to actively dismantling any barriers that prevent families from accessing the support they need and to continuously improving our services to better meet the needs of our diverse community.

We provide a comprehensive induction as well as ongoing support and supervision to help you feel confident and empowered in your role. We maintain private social media spaces for you to keep in touch with the OBS team and fellow volunteers.

How much time do I need to give?

Many of our roles involve helping at our weekly in-person sessions. Each session lasts roughly three hours. Other roles may be project-based or jobs done in collaboration with team members and trustees. We realise that you are probably balancing many other commitments, including caring responsibilities, so we can discuss flexible arrangements.

How do I apply to volunteer?

Think about which role you are interested in, then fill out an application and equal opportunities form. If you have no previous relationship with OBS we may contact you to arrange a brief interview. If you are accepted as a volunteer we’ll organise your induction and arrange for you to do safeguarding training. You will also need to have a criminal records check (Enhanced DBS), as our volunteering roles involve children. If you want to become a peer supporter then you’ll need to complete a training course.

What is a peer supporter?

Peer supporters are volunteers who give breastfeeding mothers and families encouragement and support with basic breastfeeding issues. They will normally have breastfed their child for a minimum of 6 months and will have completed a training course. They are not expected to solve complicated breastfeeding problems.
We invite applications from volunteers who have already completed peer supporter or breastfeeding counsellor training with other charities and organisations. We also welcome applications from healthcare professionals already supporting breastfeeding mothers and families, but we would expect you to undertake peer supporter training so that you are clear about expectations of the role. We will give you a full induction into the remit and boundaries of the role.

What training do I need?

You’ll need to complete the Peer Supporter Course run by the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM).

The course involves about 35 hours of online study, over 12 weeks, including watching videos and completing exercises.

ABM expects applicants to have breastfed for at least 6 months before applying. It costs £45 and we will reimburse you once you have completed the training.

We are have offered our own OBS Peer Supporter training and might do so again in future, which would be provided via a combination of remote and in-person sessions. Please email us if you want to be kept informed about this so that we can keep your details on file.

What to do next

Please read our volunteering agreement, volunteer code of conduct and volunteering policy. If you would like to volunteer with OBS, please complete our online application form and equal opportunities form.

Apply to be a Volunteer

If you have any questions, please get in touch.