I’ve been volunteering as a family support worker at Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice for about a year. Since I’ve been employed as a carer for disabled children for nearly 12 years, I wanted to give my time because I hoped my years of experience would be of use.
“I’ve been volunteering as a family support worker at Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice for about a year. Since I’ve been employed as a carer for disabled children for nearly 12 years, I wanted to give my time because I hoped my years of experience would be of use. So I provide regular support to one young person for 2 hours a week, every Monday evening after work. My role’s a bit different from some family support workers, because the little girl I support comes into Russell House for her care, so I have less of a relationship with her family – but the flip side is that I have the unique privilege of being a consistent face for her at Russell House.
“She can’t communicate in a traditional sense because she’s non-verbal, with no sign language, but she certainly recognises me. My best moment was the time she smiled at me, after 6 weeks of reading the same book, because she remembered that a funny part was coming up. I'm not paid to be there for her, I just want to be. There’s no feeling quite like it.
“Even though I work full-time, and sometimes I just feel too tired, the moment I arrive at Russell House it all disappears and I remember exactly why I do it. Forget Me Not gives me high-quality training and supervision, and all the support I need. And I know that, by volunteering, I’m freeing up a paid member of staff to do more with their time.”