What a difference a volunteer can make

We recently made a great match for the ‘Steunouder’ scheme and received an enthusiastic message with photos of a mentoring arrangement for two young carers.

A great time

‘I’m due to have an operation just before the summer holidays and my husband has to work. I’d love it if my children could have a good time during the summer holidays too,’ saida mother during an introductory visit. Due to a serious illness and an operation, she was dreading the long summer holidays.

We put her request to our support parents and a great match was soon found. The children now enjoy a fun-filled day every week, whilst their mum has time to recover and catch her breath.

‘And the great thing is: it’s not just the children who enjoy it; the support parents get a lot of pleasure out of it too,’ says support parent coordinator Liesbeth Krouwel.

Out and about with a buddy

Another lovely example is the buddy scheme involving two young carers. Their mother has less energy due to illness. That’s why a volunteer buddy visits every week to do something fun with the children. Sometimes at home, sometimes out and about. During the summer holidays, for example, they went to the cinema together and had a brilliant time.

These moments mean a great deal to this mother, too. Whilst the volunteer spends time with the children, she has a moment to rest and recharge.

‘Matches like this always make me happy,’ Liesbeth concludes enthusiastically.

Sometimes the power of volunteering lies in something very simple: being there for another family when they need it.