The Duchess of Gloucester speaks of her “huge admiration” for the work of Home-Start IOW volunteers.
Newport, Isle of Wight, Wednesday April 19: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester has visited Home-Start IOW today (Wednesday) in Newport to meet volunteers and staff from the Island charity.
She was accompanied on her visit by Deputy Lieutenant Kate Collins and introduced on arrival to the charity’s patron Judi Griffin, from Briddlesford Farm; Karen Rivlin, Chair of Trustees; and Alison Griffiths, Home-Start IOW Manager.
The Duchess of Gloucester told staff and volunteers from the charity how much she believes people get out of volunteering.
She also highlighted that the bank holiday Monday of His Majesty the King’s Coronation weekend is ‘Volunteer Day’, demonstrating royal recognition of the importance of volunteers.
After a tour of the charity’s Newport office, The Duchess of Gloucester sat down for a roundtable discussion with staff, trustees and volunteers.
The group covered topics including: the isolation felt by some families living on the Island; the increasing number of new parents experiencing anxiety and the important role of Home-Start volunteers in giving a calm influence and helping hand when needed.
Before leaving she was presented with a handmade teddy bear, knitted for Home-Start IOW and an enamel Home-Start badge which she proudly pinned to her jacket.
Stacy Gearing, Home-Start IOW Trustee told The Duchess of Gloucester how she’d been referred to Home-Start five years ago by her health visitor and was now working as a volunteer and trustee.
She said: “I’m very lucky to be part of Home-Start as a parent voice as when I had my twins five years ago Home-Start was there to help me out, so I’m here now to give back what I received.”
“I really don’t think I’d be where I am today without the help I was given.”
Home-Start IOW has supported 154 families over the past year, with a team of around 30 volunteers and eight staff, with five out working with families in the local community.
All volunteers have completed an accessible training programme before going out into family homes to help.
The charity is on a big push to recruit more volunteers – both male and female – to match with the growing number of families in need.
Carol Watts, Home-Start IOW volunteer says: “It’s really rewarding and just lovely to see progression from families who might be in a terrible state to start with, and are now able to cope – they feel to me like one of the family.”
“Having experience throughout life and then meeting these young parents – you find they just want a mum, a granny – it’s just so nice to be able to pass on skills.”
Karen Rivlin, Chair of Trustees, Home-Start IOW says: “It was a real honour to welcome The Duchess of Gloucester to Home-Start Isle of Wight today. It means so much to all of the team that she was able to take the time during her Island visit to meet with us and find out more about what we do.”
“We really hope her visit will encourage more people to volunteer with us and highlight the charity to the many families in need of help on the Island.”
Photo credit: Harriet Hadfield / Home-Start IOW