Despite having a young child herself, former volunteer Kudirat, 34, still found time in her busy week to support other families with young children.
Kudirat’s story
I have a background working in the health sector, so I have always supported and helped people, and I found out about Home-Start Bradford District volunteers while surfing the internet searching for volunteering opportunities in the community.
I know what it is like to feel isolated with a young child. When I first came to this country, I felt lonely and occasionally got sad because I was in a new environment with no friends apart from my husband and son. In time I made friends in school and began to feel better and well-adjusted into the country.
I felt the need to help people who may also be needing some form of companionship and support. I have a really supportive husband and friends, who took care of my son, while I volunteered for a couple of hours each week.
The Volunteer Preparation Course was very detailed, delivered by friendly, knowledgeable and experienced coordinators. It was delivered once in a week over a period of 7-weeks and it taught me all I needed to support my families.
It was all very interesting, but I found the training on safeguarding most useful, and it made me more observant. There were no challenges because the coordinators were often eager to support with any difficulties we faced.
Volunteering comes with a sense of fulfilment and pride and when it is with Home-Start Bradford, you get all the support and help you need to acquire the necessary skills to deliver life changing support whilst also getting support yourself if you need it.
So many families need support and would be happy to have your offer to help, it would make a whole lot of difference for them and I’m hoping to return to volunteering someday.
