I started volunteering for Home-Start Camden and Islington after I retired from a teaching career. After a period of having many lunches with friends and learning to make a good margarita, I looked around for something useful to do. In particular, I wanted something related to my interest, which was postnatal depression.
Starting My Volunteer Journey
I very much enjoyed the course, which was very thorough and made us all feel very supported and listened to.
I was very eager to meet my first family. I actually didn’t have one family—I had two, and they had been carefully picked for me, with my interest in postnatal depression in mind.
Meeting My First Families
The introductions and the type of people I was meeting were such a surprise. I think we possibly all have preconceived ideas about who we might be helping, but my two families were nothing like I imagined at all.
The first family lived in what I can only describe as a dilapidated mansion backing onto a lake on Hampstead Heath. When I say dilapidated, I really mean that in the truest sense. This was a house being renovated while they lived in it, so their electricity all ran off one extension lead for the whole house. As far as I know, there was only running water in the kitchen! And yet, you looked out of the windows onto this extraordinarily beautiful scene.
Supporting the First Family
On that first day, I met the young mother, who was from an Eastern European country and had no family here. She had two small children who she was trying to cope with in this very difficult and almost hostile environment.
My Home-Start supervisor did the assessment and the introduction and checked with our client that I would be suitable for her and that she wanted to go ahead with the volunteer, which she did.
So, for the next five months, I supported her weekly, which was an absolute joy to do. She was such a lovely person and so open to every suggestion. During that time, we walked on the Heath. We went to appointments several times. We also visited local playgroups, which allowed her to chat to other mothers while I kept an eye on the children.
I feel that, with many of the mothers I met, social isolation is one of their biggest problems. These morning playgroups are exceptional in getting people together face-to-face.
Supporting the Second Family
My second family also lived in a rather nice area. The mother was suffering from postnatal depression and was very overwhelmed by her toddler and a new baby. Again, my supervisor did the assessment, and the two of us hit it off.
I went weekly to support her, mainly going to the park. Occasionally, we’d stay at home with the children so she could get a rest or just sort her life out. Where we could, we also went to playgroups so that she could meet other mothers.
With permission, I introduced these two mums to each other. Both of these mothers are now fine again and have picked up their full and busy lives. I check in with them occasionally, but now just as a friend, as they no longer need the support of Home-Start Camden & Islington.
Helping Another Family
My next family were in a similar situation. Newly arrived back from living in Japan, without family support in London, and with two small children. This mother also was suffering from postnatal depression.
I supported her for approximately four months. This placement also consisted of a lot of time spent in parks and groups and just having the opportunity to talk to somebody. Not having family around makes it quite lonely in terms of sharing your feelings and emotions.
As a slightly older volunteer, and especially somebody who has suffered from postnatal depression myself, I feel that women my age with similar life experience can offer an almost mother/grandmother support.
Building Lasting Connections
This lovely girl is still peripherally involved with us at Home-Start and comes to annual events. She and I meet up from time to time for a coffee just so I can hear how she’s doing. Although, she is not volunteering at Home-Start any longer, she aims to return in the future.
I could continue with other examples of families, but the pattern is quite similar for all, although family circumstances will be different for each.
What Volunteering with Home-Start Means to Me
The takeaway from my experience of Home-Start Camden & Islington as a volunteer is that it truly is a family. All the volunteers and the supervisors are wonderful people and lovely to be around.
The families are always so grateful to have the volunteer’s time, and it’s been a great privilege to get to know these lovely women.