Having a new baby is such a wonderful rewarding experience, but it can also be very challenging, exhausting and isolating. It is at times like these that we all need a helping hand.
When Kirsty Whitham, 29, gave birth to her first child at the age of 17, she had moved to a new area and felt very isolated and anxious with a newborn to look after. However, with the help of a Home-Start volunteer, she soon gained the confidence to access local groups and activities and even returned to college to do an apprenticeship.
Kirsty loved the experience and benefit of a Home-Start volunteer so much, she became one herself and is now employed by Home-Start Bradford District as a Family and Volunteer Coordinator in the Keighley area. She is also mum to three children aged 12, 10 and 7.
Kirsty said: “I had a volunteer that came to visit me weekly. She helped me to look for childcare after I told her my plans to go back to college and gave me the reassurance I needed as an anxious first time mum. She used to come and play, cuddle and sing to my little boy whilst I’d do the washing up or put the clothes away or just have a brew and chat with me. She told me about all the different things in the area that I do with my child which gave me the confidence to go and access it for myself. She was just fab! She was a friendly face in my time of need.
“I always knew I wanted to repay the kindness the volunteered showed me, so I decided to train to become a volunteer myself. I attended the free Home-Start preparation course, which I absolutely loved! It was so good to see how my skills and experiences as a parent could help families and I supported two families for two years, which then lead me to having the confidence to apply for a job with Home-Start and get it!
“Being a parent is so rewarding, we know this, but no one tells you it can also be very isolating, how much conflicting advice you receive, the ‘mum guilt’ you feel on a daily basis or how hard it is to get three children under the age of five ready and out the door on time, ever.
“I am very lucky to work with the most amazing volunteers who feel the same way about helping families. I miss the volunteer role immensely but I get to see and coordinate the fantastic work the volunteers do with the families and how they improve outcomes for children and families.”
Home-Start Bradford District are recruiting more volunteers in the Keighley area, with training starting in May. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact Kirsty or Julie on 01274 666711 or email keighley@homestartbradford.co.uk.
Here is a link to this article in the Keighley News.
