In order to mark Volunteers Week 2020, we have spent some time talking to our volunteers and understanding what volunteering means for them. Our home visiting volunteers are at the heart of all the work we do here at Home-Start North and West Gloucestershire. Families who are going through a challenging time are able to receive individual support in their own homes from a volunteer, who will spend two or three hours a week providing friendship and whatever support the family needs.
Julie is one of our home visiting volunteers and has spoken to us about her volunteering work and what it means to her. Julie started volunteering with Home Start after retiring, when she quickly realised that she didn’t want to just mix with other people her own age. “The fact that volunteering with Home Start meant that I was able to feel a part of the whole community was important, it was the families that were the biggest draw. Home Start is a great umbrella to have when volunteering and they have always got your back.” Julie chose Home Start because it was clear to her that the organisation was run professionally and compassionately.
Julie has raised her own children and is now a grandmother too and is able to use her parenting skills and knowledge to help other families who are struggling. “I get an awful lot of pleasure from introducing the children in the families I am working with to activities I did with my own children. It’s great fun.”
Julie recognizes that volunteering has helped her feel a part of the wider community and has given her a much better understanding of the community she lives in and what makes it tick. In fact, Julie has enjoyed volunteering at Home-Start so much that at Home-Start North and West Gloucestershire, we are honored to be her third Home-Start volunteering placement!
“My first family I ever supported is one that has always stayed with me. Mum was struggling with isolation as she was from overseas and her husband had a demanding job that took him away every week. Her son had additional needs and she felt very disconnected from all the usual mum and baby groups. It was a tricky time, but as the months passed, life became much better for Mum. She made friends, her son started school eventually and she was able to carry on with her own career. All I really did was just provide some emotional support, I was someone to talk to for a little while. Then mum got back out there and could flex her wings.” Julie is modest about the impact her time spent with families has, but this example is a typical story of how those early parenting years can be challenging for so many people. This type of early intervention is what we are all about here at Home-Start North and West Gloucestershire. It shows just how important a couple of hours a week spent with a family can be and how the benefits of receiving support, when it matters the most can be far reaching and last for a whole childhood, and beyond.
We thank Julie, and all our home visiting volunteers during this Volunteers Week, and pay tribute to the wonderful and crucial work they do. If you would like to know more about becoming a home visiting volunteer at Home-Start North and West Gloucestershire please have a look on the volunteering pages of our website.