Do you sometimes wish you could do more to "Make a Difference?" Are you at a loss as to where to begin, what to do? Join me here for some inspiration and living examples of what you can do to make a difference in the lives of those around you.
On October 27 we once again helped fund raise for Children in Need, along with the charity Home-start Barnet. We contributed our face-painting and balloon modelling talents, to help raise about £200 at the Colindale Grahame Park Community Centre.
Funded by Children in Need, Home-start Barnet provides a safe place for youngsters to play every Thursday and Friday while their parents take part in courses such as first aid, healthy eating and emotional health and wellbeing.
I also volunteer for Homestart one day a week, by supporting a family with children under 5 years old.
You can view the complete article from the Barnet Times on-line newspaper here.
Face painting at Barnet council event for children. The mayor of Barnet, Councillor Anthony Finn looks on.
I have started the 9 week training programme for Home Start, Barnet, a local Charity. Home Start is a charity that offers support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children.
It is a unique service. Trained volunteers who are usually parents themselves visit families with at least one child under 5 at home to offer informal, friendly and confidential support.They help any family that lives in the borough of Barnet, who has at least one child under 5 and is going through a difficult time. This can be anything from feeling isolated, being new to the area, suffering from post natal depression or finding it hard to cope with twins or triplets.
Volunteers visit the family once a week and support them in a variety of practical or emotional ways. They may accompany the parent on outings, shopping trips or to keep appointments, play with the children while the parent gets on with something else at home or has a much-needed rest, or simply sit and chat if that is what is needed. It’s simple, but it works!
They also offer:
Group support
Teenage parents programme
Parenting programmes
Family events & activities
My training will finish in November and then I will be eligible to start visiting a family as a volunteer. The prep course itself has been very eye-opening, informative and rewarding. It's very hands-on and discussion oriented with lots of group activities. The group of about 20 other trainee volunteers have as a diverse a background and ethnicity as the borough of Barnet itself! In our group we have volunteer-trainees that originally have come from Afghanastan, Germany, Isreal, Nepal, Kenya, India, America, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq and oh yes, England! Ages range from early 20's to late 50's. During this training time, irregardless of the differences in background and culture, we have bonded together as a group and have formed new friendships. The subject matter has been very interesting. Quite a few "guest speakers" have attended and we are learning about all kinds of resources available for children in Barnet as well as a review of parenting skills and certain problems that families might encounter such as children with special needs, depression bereavemnet, mulitple births, etc.
I am looking forward to when I will begin visiting my first family and am happy to be involved with such a worthwhile charity.
I was able to volunteer at a Teddy Bear Picnic, which was organised by the Barnet Pre-School Learning Alliance.
The event was to give the families a fun day together, while the staff was able to evaluate the Two Year Old Pilot programme's success with them. It took place at Mill Hill Park and there were various free activities for the children such as face painting, story time, making their own teddys to take home and several play areas.
All the families that were invited are participating in a pilot scheme aimed at offering 165 two year olds in Barnet from financially disadvantaged backgrounds 10 hours free quality childcare per week.
The Worshipful the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Anthony Finn attended, although he declined to have his face painted when I offered it to him!
The weather fully cooperated and it was a warm sunny day. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was happy to be able to donate my time and face painting skills in this way.
