Volunteering boosts my self-confidence: Barbara’s story

What do you do in your volunteer role?

The National Deaf Children’s Society provides me with a presentation, which I tailor to whichever topic we’re dealing with at a particular event. I prepare myself by going through the presentation, looking at the different slides and ideas for engaging with families and professionals, and then plan how it’s going to be used.

When I get to the venue, it’s about delivering the presentation. I’m very good at chatting, so I sometimes have difficulty keeping to time! It’s always valuable to have time to chat about issues that families bring along to these sessions.

I’m trying to explain more clearly and back up with stories from my own experience, the ideas that the National Deaf Children’s Society wants to share about early communication and preparing your child for school, so they have a friendly face to speak to and ask questions.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

Making contact with families, carers and colleagues. I know several people who work at the National Deaf Children’s Society, so it’s always good to catch up with them and chat about what’s going on in our areas.

Principally, it’s to try to be that friendly face for parents and carers. When I go to these sessions, sometimes I see parents and carers who come across as very confident. Other times, there will be parents and carers who are quiet and reserved. But then they’ll go away with the knowledge to talk to their local professionals. It’s quite something to know that they feel more empowered.

The other thing I like is when families with children in their teens keep in touch and meet up again with others they first met at newly identified events. The networking opportunities for families are great.

How does your volunteering benefit deaf children, young people and their families?

I hope it empowers them, and gives them the confidence to relax and know they’re doing the right thing. In many cases, parents think they should be doing lots of all-singing all-dancing things with their deaf baby or toddler. I hope I can reassure them that doing more of what you’d do with any child is enough. Create opportunities to chat, sing and use language as much as you possibly can in a natural way. If parents go away with that message, then I’m happy.

What inspires you to volunteer?

I’ve always known about the National Deaf Children’s Society and thought it was a fantastic organisation. Starting my career as a Teacher of the Deaf in 1990, there was a strong link between our teaching and support staff, and the local Deaf Children’s Society.

As my career has developed, I’ve had different roles and I’ve met different people from different places. I work closely with Speech and Language Therapists, Clinical Audiologists, Paediatricians and Social Workers. But the link with National Deaf Children’s Society colleagues is hugely important. So many people within the charity are themselves parents of deaf young people and that’s an experience I don’t have. I value what the National Deaf Children’s Society can provide in that way.

I’ve also seen the impact of events that allow children and young people to meet others who are in a similar situation, where sometimes they are the only deaf person in their school. That’s so valuable.

What have you gained from volunteering?

My own self-confidence has been boosted. Teachers may find it easy to talk to groups of young people, but not necessarily to groups of adults! So it’s increased my self-confidence as a presenter, and that’s impacted on my career as well.

The little snippets I hear from the parents who are there, and also from National Deaf Children’s Society staff and other volunteers, add to my thoughts around deaf education and about deaf people. I’ve gained a lot from the deaf community in terms of my career, and it’s nice to be able to give something back.

What support have you received to help you in your role?

I’ve received very good support with preparation for sessions. I get the presentation in plenty of time and lots of information about important things like the venue.

When I’m in the session, people are very attentive in terms of checking that I’ve got everything I need, and that I’m prepared. The National Deaf Children’s Society staff always look out for me and they feed me very well!

There’s always feedback afterwards from participants and staff. That’s very useful to have, no matter how many times you do it. There can be things that crop up that people have really liked or not been so keen on. People are generally very positive.

What would you tell someone who’s thinking about applying to volunteer?

Go ahead and do it because you’ll be welcomed, you’ll be well supported, and you’ll find it’s a very worthwhile use of your time. It’s not hard work. It’s a pleasure.