Family Volunteer explains how much you get when you give

RUTH FAGAN is a mother of Mae (5) and Daniel (2) and lives in Knocknacarra; she is also a Family Volunteer and here she explains what it’s all about.

As a mother of two small children I’ve often wondered just what exactly family volunteering is and what could it offer my family?

Well after a recent volunteering experience with a local group, Conservation Volunteers Galway, I discovered that taking the plunge and trying it out was well worth it.

I spotted the role on the Galway Volunteer Centre website which is regularly updated with details of when and where the volunteering is taking place.

A beach clean-up was organised for a Saturday morning and the weather was looking good so I thought – why not, it will get us out of the house.

I felt a little daunted as I drove past a deserted shipyard on a misty morning trying to find the beach with all the volunteers on it.

I had to ring the contact person and he very kindly obliged me with directions, so there was no going back then.

Once we got there we were given our bags and pickers and soon got to work.

Granted I needed to encourage my five year old to play a game of rubbish treasure hunt, while my two year old busied himself with running around with a litter picker and throwing the odd stone into the bag.

But I have to say I felt completely welcomed and at ease especially after spotting a few more families on the beach, as well as a gorgeous golden retriever who provided a lot of entertainment.

We stayed for about an hour which was no problem with the organisers who were grateful for any contribution given by anybody and my two young recruits were rewarded with hot chocolate and splashing in some muddy puddles on the way home.

So what are the benefits of family volunteering? Taking part in an event such as this opened my eyes to what a single parent with two smallies can do with kids over the weekend. It felt great to take part in something that is free, outdoors and where I got to meet some really nice folk.

Our usual Saturday routine consists of playgrounds, play centres or cafés, activities which are generally all about the kiddies and in my experience can sometimes feel a bit lonesome.

Volunteering in a beach clean-up gave me something for a change, I got the feel good factor, and I got to meet and chat and make connections, have a good laugh with my kids and I didn’t spend a single cent.

I would definitely recommend family volunteering in whatever form it can take and in whatever capacity you wish to do it.

There are many opportunities to do it, conservation and clean-up projects are one way, but I’ve also thought about bag packs, face painting at festivals, dog walking and even carol singing at Christmas.

Obviously as a parent you need to check out with the voluntary organisation whether they can accommodate smallies being supervised by parents but depending on the role most should be open to it.

The sort of role you choose will also be dictated by the age and stage your kids are at and possibly how much hot chocolate is on offer.

As busy parents I think we can often feel limited by time and responsibilities to nurture parts of ourselves that we long to but can’t as we’re constantly looking after our kids or working – and in many cases both.

But I’ve learnt that it’s completely possible to combine the two. So why not try it and see what it can offer you as an individual, as a parent and as a member of your local community.

National Volunteering Week takes place from May 16 to 22 nationwide. For more information on volunteering in Galway city or county, contact Volunteer Galway at (091) 581 727, email info@volunteergalway.ie, or go to www.volunteergalway.ie