International Volunteers Day: a day in the life

To mark International Volunteer Manager’s Day on Saturday 5 November, Emma Steel, who has worked with volunteers throughout her time with CHAS, tells us more about how she came to be a volunteer manager.

My current role at CHAS is Home Support Lead for the West of Scotland however my background is in working with children. I originally trained as a Nursery Nurse, progressing to managing a nursery, and doing my degree in Childhood Studies. I was part of the initial team when CHAS opened Robin House. Volunteers have always been part of the tapestry of CHAS, and by being here, I found myself working alongside volunteers every day.

Prior to this role, I worked in the CHAS Activities Team as an Activities Facilitator. It was an extremely varied job. As a team, we offered a variety of play, outings and events to the children and families, but we also were involved in one-to-one and group work, memory making and bereavement support. We had a number of Volunteers within the Activities Team, and over the last few years I was managing these volunteers.

I really do believe that volunteers bring more diversity to the team as well as a range of experience and talents. I’ve particularly enjoyed seeing volunteers develop and become more confident in what they are doing. I’ve also enjoyed being able to share my enthusiasm for working with children.

Moving to Home Support has enabled me to focus on volunteers and further my own skills but I still use my previous knowledge. In my current role, I oversee a team of volunteers who offer practical support to families in their own homes. This can include housework, supporting siblings or other ‘everyday’ tasks which can feel overwhelming when caring for a child with a life-shortening condition.

I recruit and train the volunteers, liaise with other hospice teams to identify family’s needs, and match volunteers to the families. Volunteers ‘log’ each of their visits, which I receive and record, and I keep in regular contact with them so they feel supported and connected to the wider team.

One thing I’ve come to realise in my time with CHAS is that children and adults are more alike than we think. Children need to feel safe, listened to, and to know that you genuinely care. You need to join a child where they are, understand what matters to them; only then will you see the child be their full selves, and grow. It’s exactly the same for adults!

It’s really important to me that the Home Support Volunteers know that I am there for them. I use my experience of caring for children, young people and families, counselling skills, and knowledge of the sector from my previous roles to help me. Over the years, I have also been a volunteer myself for several organisations, and this gives me some insight into the volunteer experience.

My favourite part of working with Home Support Volunteers is reading their visit logs and listening to them tell me about what they have been doing with families. From hearing of a mum and a volunteer having a wee dance off celebration when they finally reached the bottom of a pile of ironing, to someone challenging a sibling to construct a bridge made from marshmallows and spaghetti, I can see how rewarding the volunteer is finding their visit, but I also know that it is making a difference for the family.

We are in the process of expanding Home Support so I am enjoying meeting and getting to know prospective new volunteers. It is really exciting being involved in developing a service that we know makes an impact on children and families.