My company Nisbets Catering Supplies, offer each employee a paid day to go and help in a charitable way. I have never done anything like this before, but upon reflection I decided I would like to give back to the community some of my time to try and help. I found the Family Haven online and telephoned to see if it was possible to volunteer. The charity are local to where I live and it felt that I could contribute and give back, having some history in my own life many years ago of being in need when I had small children.
The day arrived, June 21st and I was given the opportunity to help in the children’s nursery. I felt excited to be going, but nervous as to whether I would be able to contribute anything of value to the team. I was very warmly greeted by one of the team and taken to the Manager’s (Helen) office where I helped to fill in all of the necessary paperwork in order to be allowed on site all day. The feeling as I was introduced to the team was warm sincerity that I was actually very welcome (my fear was that I would be classed as another volunteer who gets in the way) this made me feel at ease, and we proceeded to the nursery.
The tables were all set out for the morning play activity, the room was clean warm and inviting, and I was introduced to Claire and Ben in the nursery team. The first child arrived “Joshua” and I was asked if I could help play with the playdough. Of course I absolutely love playdough and Joshua and I began the modelling. As more and more children arrived they came over and joined in with the play. All my nervousness had disappeared and I just threw myself into helping and playing as if they were my own grandchildren.
“The Family Haven” is the perfect name for this place it is, a small oasis in the city centre for children to play whilst their parents are being assisted with all kinds of different problems upstairs.
We took the children into the garden, where we played with water (I got soaked!) loads of toys were brought out, nothing was too much trouble for the leaders to help the children enjoy the experience. Then it was back inside for lunch, the children who came from a variety of ethnic backgrounds had many different dietary requirements, but the chef had cracked it with a vegetarian lasagne and everyone without exception ate it. The aim is to get the children’s 5-a-day inside them before they leave, as many of the parents have no method of cooking for them in their temporary accommodation. This was successfully achieved across the day with afternoon snacks of cucumber and carrot sticks with hummus, plenty of drinks and milk was also served.
What I was impressed with was that no child was in a soiled nappy for more than a minute. There was a nappy rota on the wall and all children were kept clean and tidy. Sun hats were provided outside and aprons for when eating, whilst little cards had been made for each child to be given out at food time to help the leaders conform to the needs of each child.
Great organisation, planning and preparation made the day fly by and all the children were encouraged to help tidy the toys so they could get the next games out. We also had music in the afternoon with dance and built Mr Potato Head several times.
Overall the experience was amazing, a small insight into the good work that is done at The Family Haven, who I absolutely know are a godsend to these families who have been referred there for help and assistance. I can’t close this blog without mentioning my favourite little girl, who could not speak English, but over the course of the day I managed to converse with her through signs and expression. I hope I made the day a little special for that little one who had come on so much since coming to the centre, but was still a little frightened and confused.
Thank you to the team for allowing me to come into their world and have such an amazingly enriched day in my life. I will never forget my day and will definitely be back next year.
Yvonne Dixon – Nisbets Catering Supplies