Home Start gets festive!

The Home Start volunteer team saw out the year in style with a Christmas party to celebrate the charities brilliant work throughout the year. The team got together at our charity headquarters for an afternoon of fun, copious amounts of food and enough Christmas tunes to make Mr Claus himself proud!

The party was a great chance for some volunteers to finally get to know one another... many volunteers had been on different training courses, so had never even met each other! So after the initial meet and greet, the group was split into two teams: in true Christmas spirit, these were the Holly and the Mistletoe teams! After the teams found out a bit more about each other, it was time for the competition to start... the Home Start Christmas Quiz!

Many laughs later, the quiz came to a very close end, with the Holly team just beating the Mistletoe. And with the tables groaning under the weight of the Christmas feast, it was time for us all to enjoy the delicious treats laid out by the Home Start staff. Lunch time conversation revolved around the volunteers experiences as part of Home Start, and what it was they enjoyed so much about being a member of the team:

“It is so rewarding looking back at the family you have worked with and seeing what they have achieved. The services just aren't there anymore for struggling families. Home-start is like being part of a small community of people – we all support each other.”

“I enjoy meeting my families, and they look forward to seeing me. Home-start is a friendly environment to be a part of, and as volunteers we all learn from each others experiences.”

“It's nice meeting new people in an intergenerational environment. My favourite thing about volunteering for Home-start is how it makes me feel needed again, and that I am doing something useful for other people.”

Sadly the team had to say goodbye to one of their longest volunteers, Sheila Rees, due to home circumstances. Sheila spoke about the various things she would miss about Home Start, saying, “I couldn't of chosen a nicer family myself. I would accompany the family to swimming lessons – it filled a gap in my life! It was nice to feel needed, and the supportive staff were always there to help – they were excellent!”

The team will miss Sheila! Every member of Home Start - family or volunteer - is appreciated and valued... it's what makes us such a close team! We are always on the look out for more volunteers to join us, and more families to take advantage of the services we offer. To find out a bit more, log on to www.homestartmonmouthshire.org.uk!

Happy New Year from all here at Home Start Monmouthshire!