Cathy first heard about Home-Start from her mum’s friend who had volunteered for 25 years. Cathy never forgot that conversation and became a volunteer for Home-Start Slough (now Home-Start Berkshire East) eight years later, supporting six families and going on to be a Trustee. We caught up with her as she speaks fondly of her time volunteering…

“I remember the day I found out about Home-Start so clearly. My mum’s friend was explaining what they do and that really stayed with me. I'd never heard of Home Start so she was describing it to me. There I was sat with my tiny baby, exhausted, thinking, what an amazing service. That conversation, and Home-Start really stayed in my mind. It was many years before I had the time or the capacity to be able to give back, but it was there till I was ready.

I had three children and when my youngest started school – around eight years after that initial conversation - I was determined that that's what I would put my time and energy into. In 2018 I got in touch with my local Home Start and said I'd love to be involved. It all started from there.

I ended up supporting six families as a home visiting volunteer. And alongside that, at some point around a year in, I then got recruited to also be a trustee. I was doing both at the same time, which was super interesting. I could bring the perspective of having actually gone out and delivered the work with families.

I became a Trustee because I was so interested in the work of Home Start, I wanted to get an insight into how it actually works? I was very personally interested in understanding more about how a charity runs. It was very inspiring for me to be working with other people who were only there because they really wanted to do something positive. I hadn't experienced that before, being part of a team where you're all volunteers and you've all got kind of this one common goal.

 It felt very uplifting to be working with people who had come from different walks of life, and we all had different day jobs. We all wanted to essentially build something really positive. I learnt loads too which I still use years later. 

Thinking about home visiting, I remember my first visit very vividly. I could feel when she opened the door to me that first morning that she had probably been waiting hours for that doorbell to ring. I could see the relief in her face when she opened the door and we met. It was very powerful. I think it’s a big thing, you have to be so trusting letting you in both literally and figuratively - letting you into their lives and opening themselves up to you.

We were together for a couple of hours. She went and had a bath, which she really enjoyed and hadn't been able to do in peace for a little while. I was playing with the kids. I did some preparing of food for one of them. It felt really good to help her in whatever way was needed. I don’t think you ever forget any of the families you’ve helped.

What do you think your expectations were of how you'd be supported?

I think my expectations were that I would be very warmly and heavily supported. And the reason I expected that was because that was the vibe that I had had from day one. From my very first interaction with the office administrator at Home-Start Slough was so warm, so encouraging,

That continued the whole way through, in both roles. From the beginning I felt that everyone was saying “we’re here, we've got your back. We know you haven't done this before but we're really glad that you're here.” I felt entirely supported.

What did you think about your training in your role?

The training for home visiting was extremely good. Very, very thorough, it was amazing. It was thought provoking. I also really enjoyed being with other volunteers in a group. I appreciated being able to share ideas, ask questions and share worries.

What would you say to a family who is struggling and wants to reach out for help?

Absolutely do it if it's there and available to you. I’m sure there has never been a mum in history who hasn't felt like they've needed help. It is the hardest job in the world, it’s full on, 24 hours a day and everybody needs help.

If you reach out to Home-Start, the volunteer that you'll be matched with will be a lovely person who's doing it because they want to get to know your family and be there to support you.

Is there a memory with one of your supported families that you hold fondly?

Oh gosh, there are so many! But this one really stayed with me. There was this one lovely family where the mum had just had a baby and then she had a little boy who was just under two. He and I became great friends. They didn't have many toys and I started to bring a different toy with me that we played with from home. It felt special to share that with him.

Over a period of weeks, he developed a favourite - a tub full of wooden, colouful bricks. I would pull up on the driveway and he'd be waiting at the window watching me get out of the car to see if I had the tub with me. I learned over time to wave it to him as I got out of my car, and I loved to see the look of joy on his face. I've still got the tub of bricks, out of sentimental value. Maybe one day, I’ll pass it on if I have grandchildren. Whenever I see the tub I’m reminded of the little boy and his mum. I know that children love it when adults actually get down and engage with them and play alongside them. I know it's not profound, but it really stayed with me.

It reminds me of the power of simple things. Home-Start support means that families have the opportunity to feel cared which is really powerful as sadly, not many people get to experience that. You do that through small actions like making a cup of tea - for that parent that might be the first time in months that anyone's offered to do something for them.

What would you say to anyone who's thinking about volunteering for Home-Start?

If it interests you, if you enjoy building relationships with people, if you want to walk away from your volunteering session feeling like you've made a truly tangible difference, do it!

It's a properly raw, real, tangible feeling of huge satisfaction that you’ve made a difference. For me, it was highly rewarding. Don't think that it's complicated. Don't think that you need to be an expert in anything. You don't. You just need to be kind and able to listen."