Home-Start Sutton celebrates turning 40 this month, so we wanted to shine a light on some of their many amazing volunteers who have helped families across Sutton feel empowered, nurtured and supported.
Fran
My name is Fran, and I volunteer for Home-Start Sutton. I have been a Trustee for 20 years*, I have been Chair of Trustees for 18 months and I am also a Family Volunteer and have been for over 3 years. I am a bit of a serial volunteer being a school Governor and a coordinator for a Warm Space Group. I like to be busy.
What got you interested in volunteering?
I think I have always mixed in circles where volunteering was a part of culture and practice. My parents were serial volunteers and always seemed happy and fulfilled in their activities.
Any examples that come to mind when you really enjoyed volunteering?
I have really enjoyed volunteering when after sometimes a struggle to build up trust and rapport you get some kind of breakthrough. It's humbling and a privilege for people to trust you and open up and to allow you to be part of their journey. Cheering from the sidelines can be all that's needed.
Anything you’d say to anyone interested in volunteering?
If anyone is interested in volunteering I would say just give it a go. You gain as much as the beneficiary. You will learn and grow. It's community capital in action.
"Fran has done an amazing job helping to secure National Lottery Funding for four years which has enabled Home Start Sutton to continue providing the invaluable services. Fran also Volunteers for Home-Start and last Christmas she selflessly cooked a Christmas Dinner for one of the families and delivered it to them personally. She always goes above and beyond to help those in need. Congratulations Fran!"
You can nominate someone for the 2024 Sutton Community Awards here.
Diana
Diana is still actively volunteering with Home-Start Sutton, we caught up with her whilst actively volunteering, helping families in the group. She said:
“I saw this [role advertised] after I retired and it said could I talk to people and I like people's company so I just tried and it and enjoyed it ever since. That was 20 years ago!
I help the playgroup and family visiting and have done both since I started. I enjoy the company and seeing little ones growing up. I treat them as surrogate great grandchildren!
I enjoy every family I've been with. I've helped 8 or 9 families including two lots of twins and a visually impaired Mum. And I've learned to be comfortable with children with disabilities and big dogs.
It's the most rewarding thing I do! At the end of a visit you see a family you have helped sort their problems out and feel happier with themselves, be more relaxed and able to deal with their problems. It has helped me too. I've had a lot of love and support from everybody in the Home-Start Sutton team too.”
Sue
“I feel it’s a great honour to be a Home-Start Volunteer it is such a special organisation, for me visiting families in their home building relationships, getting to know and support them is wonderful. The staff team are incredibly supportive so we all feel part of the same very important mission to support families with young children, nothing could be more important to me.”
Liz
Liz shares her story here:
Abdoul
Men are welcomed too and they are always looking for more. Here’s a story from a male volunteer from another local Home-Start which also highlights the variety of help that can be given, not just for helping in the home.
To find out more about volunteering with them go here:
And their website is: https://homestartsutton.org.uk/
At the 40th birthday gala, the Mayor announced the good news that Home-Start Sutton will be the new Mayor's charity of the year alongside Parkinsons! So there will be plenty of fun events to get involved with too.
Here are some other quotes shared.
“My volunteer has been the best thing in my life, couldn’t have done it without her”
