Celebrating the volunteers changing children’s lives

It’s Volunteer Week and what an important time to recognise the incredible commitment and skills shared by our community volunteers. Let’s see how this works in practice with the BOOST project.

Imagine knowing exactly what you want to do in life. But no matter how hard you try on your own, through training and experience, something keeps standing in the way of your dream. That’s the reality for so many people in our communities and it’s exactly why the BOOST project exists to help.

“I’ve been trying to get into childcare for 2 years. I met you and within 6 weeks you made it happen.”

Meet May*. She spent two years following online courses, applying for roles, and showing up time and time again. But none of it seemed to give her an opportunity to follow her dream of working in early years education. When she met Alison, our BOOST project Volunteer Officer, at a local jobs fair, she wasn’t sure what to expect. But May was there because she hadn’t given up, even when things hadn’t gone her way.

Alison listened and she saw May’s passion and drive straight away. Within weeks, Alison had found May a weekly volunteer placement at a local nursery. Alison also helped May enrol in a  Level 2 Teaching Assistant qualification. Over the next seven months, May turned up, put the work in, and quickly became indispensable. By the end of the year, May had a job. Not just any job, the job she’d been working towards for two years. The nursery that had watched her grow as a volunteer and they already knew she was the perfect fit.

It’s not just about finding a placement. It’s about finding a way.

For some volunteers, the barriers go beyond confidence or experience. Sara* came to Alison with real restrictions tied to her settled status. It was the kind of complexity that can feel like a dead end before you’ve even started. Alison didn’t see it like this. She saw a person who wanted to care for the children in her community. Together, they mapped out what was possible. A volunteer placement was arranged. Support with qualifications followed. And Alison did what she always does and she stayed close.

Sara describes it best:

“It would not have been possible without Alison’s daily support, guidance and motivation. She was always checking in, encouraging me and making sure I stayed on track. Her dedication truly changed my path and I’m so grateful for everything she has done for me.”

Small steps. Real change. This is the power of Alison’s work with the BOOST project. It’s not about gestures. It’s about a conversation at a jobs fair that turns into a placement. It’s about the check-ins every week that becomes a lifeline. It’s about someone like Alison, who understands — from the inside — the specific challenges that refugees face when trying to find their footing. Through working together, people can become brilliant volunteers and change our communities for the better.

*Names changed to protect privacy.

Are you interested in the BOOST project or volunteering opportunities? Get in touch to be part of the BOOST project today.