Volunteers week
Mohti Lovett – joined us as a volunteer last year
This week (1-7 June) is Volunteer’s Week and Jigsaw (South East) would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our wonderful volunteers and their commitment to supporting children and young people.
“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves”
– James Matthew Barrie, author
Did you know that every year, over 20 million people across England and the UK volunteer, donating more than 100 million hours to their communities every week. Services and initiatives that are vital to the running of our country simply wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for volunteers.
You have helped us by volunteering for our family groups, mentoring young people, fundraising and providing admin support. Without you we would not be able to provide our much needed service. By fundraising we were able to put the money towards our groups and inform more families of our service. With the work from our admin volunteers we have been able to collate data that is essential to our funding bids and improvement within our service. Our buddies have provided a safe supportive environment for many families to cope with their grief. We are so grateful to have you as part of the Jigsaw (South East) Team. Thank-you!
In the past year we have provided advice or information to over 350 enquiries for children between the ages of 3 and 18 years and offered direct support to 96 families. These figures include the Macmillan Service which in its first year has had 150 enquiries. Of those, there are currently 29 open cases involving 45 children. From April 2012 thirty-two families have attended our groups with a total of 49 children and young people.
Our evaluation tools demonstrate that outcomes for children after coming to our groups indicates that their health improves (75%), sociability improves (77%), behaviour improves (94%), attendance and performance at school improves (87%).
Quotes from our recent groups
“Everyone has been so friendly. My grief is very raw and I have been made to feel comfortable and supported.”
“The whole team were friendly, approachable and I know my child enjoyed her time. I asked her was it due to people attending and she said “no” the helpers made it special so thank you”
“It was lovely and reassuring to know it was ok to discuss emotions openly”
“It has been a big help. Wouldn’t have been able to move on without the groups.”
“I like Jigsaw and I never knew there were this many people who have lost their dad”
“Thank you for helping me; you have been the only group who has helped me.”
“Helped me to open up more and talk about stuff. Also to know other people know what I am going through.”
“Everyone is so lovely, very caring, supportive we will miss them.”
A heartfelt thank you on behalf of of Jigsaw (South East) and the all the families that you have helped.
“Doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good”
– Ivan Scheier, a pioneering thinker on volunteering
