Why Volunteer for the HELPLINE?

Because callers test your knowledge: try your patience or wring your heart, but never bore you. You may judge the length of a call but you are never judgemental. Instead you help people to see another point of you.

For example:

An irate grandfather says he will take his ‘horrible’ daughter-in-law to court because his grandsons no longer come to se him every Saturday.

“How old are they?”

“Thirteen and fifteen.”

So you help may him to accept that it is for him to fit into their teenage lifestyle – and have new good times with his family.

“Time, how long?”

“Maybe twenty minutes”

Or perhaps a loving grandmother is full-time caring for one-year old Harry. His father is in the Forces, soon to go overseas, and Harry’s mother is a troubled 17 year old who has run off with another man. She said the family may keep Harry or ‘get him adopted’. What do they do to legally keep him safe? Will social workers take him away? So, maybe forty minutes to reassure her and promise our leaflets giving wise options.

A thought-provoking task but never a dull one.

VOLUNTEERS
The organisation relies on the support of volunteers. Would you like to train to be a volunteer with the Grandparents' Association?

We require volunteers for:

• Helpline
• Grandparents And Toddler groups (currently only in Hertfordshire and Essex)
• Support Groups

For further details contact Linda Nunn , Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01279 428040