Vicky Wright

Your volunteering role(s):

Childcare Practioner / Youth Worker - Little Miracles Charity

Your biggest volunteering achievement:

Having our hard work and dedication recognised by being shortlisted for an award - we have been invited to attend the awards ceremony early next year!

Why do you volunteer?

I attended Little Miracles events as a parent with my son, who is autistic.

We'd attended other groups previously and none seemed the right 'fit' for us. The difference with this community from the moment we walked through that door is that the vast majority of staff and volunteers have a lived experience, and no behaviour ever seemed out of the ordinary. We were made to feel welcome, and made lots of new friends.

From there, I began to volunteer - mostly helping to supervise in soft play or helping to tidy up at the end of the session. Then I started to get involved behind the scenes as well, helping with admin, and applied for a bank position when it became available.

What impact has your volunteering had?

I completed the training to help families with DLA forms, I'm now Designated Safeguarding Lead and a qualified first aider.

My confidence has massively increased, and more than anything I feel like I'm contributing to reducing risk of social isolation for families like mine. I describe joining Little Miracles as finding our tribe.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering volunteering?

Take the leap! It can be incredibly rewarding to give time to something that matters, amd the sense of job satisfaction is like no other.