A Home-Start Wessex volunteer from West Moors was recently celebrated at the Home-Start Wessex volunteers’ celebration event for her contribution to local families in need.

Rowena Wilkes received a certificate of achievement for ten years of service as a volunteer with Home-Start, along with fellow volunteer Anne Luke from Corfe Mullen.

Both trained on the same course in 2013 and have helped over 40 local families in need since then.

Rowena said, “A family recently asked me why I volunteer, and I said I was a secondary school teacher, and when I retired, I didn’t want to lose contact with younger people. I had skills I didn’t want to lose in the way you talk to people and relate to people, and it’s fun. I think we get as much from it as the families do.

It’s brilliant just how many families we are able to support now. Ten years ago, it was a much quieter, smaller organisation, but it hasn’t lost that family atmosphere by growing, that’s still there.”

Chris Thomas, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Home-Start Wessex, added, “I have worked in two very high profile organisations in the Ambulance Service and the Coastguard, dealing with some big impact events, but this organisation takes me through the whole range of emotions. What a place to work and be a trustee. Everyone here has contributed and changed people’s lives, and I am really proud of what we deliver as a team. Thank you for your commitment, care, compassion, and outstanding professionalism. You give people hope – a four-letter word which means so much.”

Alongside staff and volunteers, guests at the afternoon tea event included funders Dorset Tea and P J Aiken Limited.

Yet their service is in more demand than ever. If you can commit to 2-3 hours each week to help transform the lives of young children and their parents in our community, please contact michelle@homestartwessex.org.uk. Find out more at homestartwessex.org.uk.

Photo: Chris Thomas, Anne Luke, Rowena Wilkes and Kathy Fryatt-Banks of Home-Start Wessex