Making Volunteering Fashionable
11 years ago, I was young, fit, full of Energy and ready to take on the world.
Then a string of events led me to becoming a single mother.
Being an immigrant, without a circle of support, struggling with unresolved traumas, working full time and raising a child was a lot.
But I was too proud to admit I was struggling.
6 years later, I was severly depressed, obese, in and out of work and in a massive debt, close to eviction.
And very unhappy.
I was prescribed anti-depressants for a long time, trying different ones, different strengths.
During my darkest times, GP never asked me, about the wellbeing of my little boy.
No one ever wondered, how my depression was affecting him. There were no obvious signs, safeguarding trainings usually teach us about. They tell us to look out for the obvious indicators, not to imagine the future.
Why would anyone have to worry about a 6 year old, who’s mum is severly depressed, unable to keep a job, obese, in debt, having thoughts about ending her life…
Why would anyone worry, about a mixed race little boy, with behavioural issues at school and home, running Around the neighbourhood knocking on people’s doors…
He was just little kid, growing up in a very confusing world, without any significant role model in his life… Just like most kids today…
There’s nothing to worry about … until you hear about it on the news…
Luckily for my little family- I have matured enough to begin my transformation journey in 2019, and never looked back.
I have managed to lose all excess weight.
I have managed to come out of depression.
I have also managed to pay off enormous amout of debt.
But more importantly, my own growth, started influencing my little boy.
I realised I was becoming a role model for him.
He soon started working on improving his behaviours at school and at home. His school reports started getting better; he began developing interests….
Together, we established healthier life choices as a family, like better food options, more physical activity, more time outdoors and volunteering our spare time to make the world around us a better place.
Unfortunately, many people and many families, are still stuck in their circles looking for influence, to help them break it.
Whilst they are lacking inspiration towards a wholesome wellbeing, their little children are slowly starting to form their own unhealthy patterns.
It’s way cooler to walk around the streets carrying a knife, than go on a litter pick with older people…
Being a single mother, an immigrant, without a family to support me, it is very difficult to ensure a healthy lifestyle at all times.
Working, trying to grow my business, raising a little man and looking after the house, lives very little time for anything else.
But I am trying my very best to be a role model, I’d like my son to become one day, and to make a little difference I can.
I volunteer for a Charity called Marathon Kids Uk, who help to fight obesity and mental health problems in children. Unfortunately, The Charity has run out of funding and has to close it’s doors at the end of April.
I am also a trustee on the board of Home Start Erewash. They are struggling to raise funds but also struggle to recruit volunteers. Just like many other organisations in the country.
At the same time, I’m trying to start up a community interest company called Reach For A Star, and my biggest dream is to influence transformation of communities.
As I mentioned earlier, I am an immigrant.
I came to UK in 2006 and started working in social care. I was brough over by an organisation struggling to recruit staff to work with people with learning disabilities.
I began working as a support worker and over the years worked my way up.
In July 2022, across Englad, there were established Integrated Care Systems. These are partnerships between organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, to improve the lives of those who live and work in their area, to improve outcomes and tackle inequalities, to enhance productivity and make best use of resources and to strengthen local communities. You definitely know some of the organizations as NHS or Your local council.
I was very fortunate to be offered a job as a Project Manager within Local Authorities and get involved in some of the programmes reforming health and social care. After 16 years in the sector, it felt like I finally got an opportunity to sit at the tables, that can make a real difference.
As much as the biggest partners like NHS and Social Care take a big chunk of resources, they are still not always able to solve all the problems of our communities.
I have noticed enormous disconnect and lack of awareness of what’s different partners if ICS are doing: NHS, Social care, community and voluntary organisations and local residents.
Everyone is competing with each other over funding and man power.
The biggest partners, like NHS and Social Care get to keep the most
As you know small Charity organisations and community interests companies, are fuelled by small pots of funding and kindness of other people, like those who donate their resources (money, time, skills or experience).
There are a lot of passionate people out there who really want to make a difference and to add the missing value but need someone to enable them to achieve those outcomes.
Reach For A Star would like to propose a collaboration to showcase the enormous difference people in the communities make, which no one talks about or recognises. From small things like litter picking, or cutting bush near the canal to cancer support or domestic violence support groups.
Volunteers are filling the gaps in services, the council and NHS can not provide.
We need more people, who can volunteer their resources: money, time, skills, experience, connections or kindness!
Not just for the community but also for selfish reasons.
Because volunteering really makes you feel good about yourself!
The aims are to:
ATTRACT MORE VOLUNTEERS TO ENABLE ORGANISATIONS WORK ON AMAZING PROJECTS IN THE COMMUNITIES
ATTRACT MORE ATTENTION TO THE VALUE SMALL VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS ADD IN TO INTEGRATED CARE SYSTEMS
ATTRACT MORE FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE WORK WE DO
It’s Better Together!
Help Us Make
Volunteering fashionable!!!
