Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
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VOLUNTEERING is a great way to get experience, enhance your CV and do something very worthwhile.
So meet Sheena Sigsworth, a Dundee native who, after a 30-year teaching career, felt she had more to offer and that maybe her experiences as a single mother raising two boys, being a gran and a teacher may be of value somewhere.
“I answered a post on Facebook looking for volunteers for various posts with Aberlour Scotland’s Children’s Charity, in Dundee,” said Sheena.
“After an initial interview, I was involved with six other potential volunteers in various training sessions.
“Everyone else was much less than half my age but, very quickly, it was made quite clear everyone is valued and appreciated and we all have skills to offer. We had laughs during training and the Aberlour staff were always supportive”.
The volunteer places available were After School Club mentor, befriender and children’s activities worker.
“Having decided that an ex-teacher wouldn’t be a child’s first choice of homework helper and that a day out with a ‘Granny figure’ might not be ‘cool’ I decided on the children’s activities worker for me.
“Parents can be referred to Aberlour for help for a variety of reasons.
“The charity have been running skills workshops in budgeting, planning meals and cooking and have had great successes. While the parents are working with the staff, my role is to look after their children.
The support the parents receive makes an amazing difference to their self confidence and feelings of social isolation.
“The staff teams support them through officialdom, through multi-agency meetings and through illness and worries.
“The fact that mums return socially to the group long after their initial learning has taken place, is testament to the support they have had.
“While all this is going on I get to look after the babies, toddlers and school age children at holiday time.
“Usually I have two small children and we have story telling, singing games, tea parties and lots of craft activities. The mums join us for coffee and a chat after their group if there is time.
“I enjoy my couple of hours per week and I would recommend this to anyone who likes children.
“Children should always be given the chance to grow safely and happily and I’ve seen great results, even in the year I have been lucky enough to have been involved”.