By Wendy Williamson
Are you a parent or do you have parenting experience as a grandparent or foster carer?
Do you enjoy spending time with young children and would like to make a difference in your community?
If the answer is yes, then perhaps you would like to commit a couple of hours each week to being a Home-Start volunteer.
Your efforts will certainly be appreciated and you are likely to find the experience richly rewarding.
“It was fantastic,” said mother of twins Bronwyn Paige.
“When the year was up, it was hard to say goodbye to (Home-Start volunteer) Bernadette. We still catch up from time to time.”
A voluntary home visiting service that offers practical support and friendship to families with children from newborn to five years of age, Connections Home-Start is based in Croydon and co-ordinated by Freya Dugan. Volunteers are fully trained and supported by the volunteer co-ordinator.
A new eight-week training course for volunteers will commence shortly at Yarra Junction.
Bronwyn was introduced to Bernadette when her twins were just a few months old. New to the area, with no extended family close at hand, she found the extra pair of hands Bernadette provided a godsend.
“It was like having a caring, loving mum or grandma on hand. It felt like a wave of support came into my life,” said Bronwyn, whose twins are now two.
There are plenty more families like Bronwyn’s in the Upper Yarra area looking to be matched with a Home-Start volunteer.
“We are keen to grow the program and are interested in hearing from people in the Upper Yarra area who would like to become volunteers,” said Freya Dugan.
“It’s a great way to form new friendships, as volunteers train together one day a week for eight weeks and then meet up once a month. Long-term support is one of the pluses of the program.”
The next training program for volunteers will commence on 26 July. If you can commit to giving two hours a week of your time and would like to become a Home-Start volunteer, please contact Freya Dugan on 9724 2222 or email home-start@connections.org.au.
