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Parenting

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Charity - council - childrens home?

2 replies

Suslik · 03/05/2009 23:37

Hi all,
for a while i've been looking at how i can help some deprived children out there.

I thought it was going to be pretty simple. I have a baby turning toddler of my own now and so i thought wouldn't it be great if i could arrange so that i can take one or two other kids similar age with us when we go out to the zoo, or park, or you name it. Just take one of the kids from childrens home or through some charity who don't have their parents around, and give them some care for a bit of time, and have my baby socialise with some others. Or take a child to our home from a childrens home or something for a few days, say Christmas or Easter.

I have not really spoken to any local children homes, as we are gonna be on the move pretty soon. But i searched for a charity that would allow me to do that and it's all much more complicated. And, usually targeted at much older children.

The closest i managed to find is Kids Co, but they want you to commit to an hour a week to meet a child at some offices etc. Not really what i was hoping for. And most children are teenage.

So not sure if something like what i was looking for actually exists. Anyone researched?

I am not trying to be difficult in terms of not wanting to help older kids, i just have no real way to relate to them. I am really learning how to relate to a child with my own baby, as she grows. Cant see myself being helpful to a teenager at this point, especially being not from the UK and from a very different culture does not help as i have no frame of reference...

Any thoughts on whether i am thinking of something that can't be done or someone knows how to do that, let me know. I mean to take care after some local-ish underprivileged children of very young age.

Thanks!

OP posts:
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 03/05/2009 23:47

Hi, what a lovely thought!

I wonder if your local council might help with advice. They'll know the local homes or agencies which are looking for volunteers.

Sometimes charities expect you to have training to work with kids from difficult backgrounds, so that you can understand their issues. They'll certainly need you to be CRB checked, so there'll be some paperwork to do. And given that they're investing in you with that, they might want some sort of commitment in terms of hours as well. They, and the children, need people they can rely on rather than people who dip in and out.

Good luck with it though, I think it's a lovely idea.

MadBadandDangerousToKnow · 03/05/2009 23:52

What you're describing sounds almost like respite fostering. When you're speaking to your council, you could ask then about that.

I hope you find some way of making a contribution.

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