​Adults in Sessions: Understanding the difference between Volunteers and Parent Helpers

At Waymakers, we welcome the involvement of adults who attend with children. To keep our community safe, inclusive, and clear about responsibilities, there are two distinct roles:

PARENT HELPER
Parents/carers attending to support their own child only.

Purpose
To focus on your own child’s comfort, participation, and wellbeing during sessions.

Key Guidelines

• Support only your own child.
• Allow facilitators and volunteers to manage group activities and conflicts.
• If concerned about another child or the group dynamic, bring it to the facilitator, not directly to the child.
• Respect Waymakers’ Shared Agreement and values of respect, inclusivity, and consent.
• No DBS check or safeguarding training required.
• Must follow safeguarding boundaries (e.g. no photos of other children, no direct intervention with other children).

VOLUNTEER
Adults supporting all children under facilitator guidance.

Purpose
To work with facilitators to create a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment for all children.

Responsibilities

• Support all children in line with Waymakers’ values and facilitator direction.
• Assist with practical tasks (setting up, tidying, helping children access resources).
• Model respectful, consent-based communication.
• Report accidents, incidents, or concerns to the facilitator.
• Maintain confidentiality and safeguarding practice.
  
  

Requirements

• DBS check and safeguarding training (provided if needed).
• Commitment to Waymakers’ inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming ethos.

In Summary

• Parent Helper = support your own child only
• Volunteer = support the whole group under facilitator guidance
• Both roles are valued, but they are different. This distinction protects children, respects parents, and ensures facilitators can create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for everyone.