Robert’s Volunteer Journey
I retired from a career in finance in 2022, during which I had the privilege of living and working in more than a dozen countries across three continents, with large complex teams and diverse cultures.
I decided to use some of the people skills I learned along the way to pursue a long-held interest in personal development and psychotherapy. I began my studies at CCPE in January 2023. Later that year, as part of my college training, I applied for a befriending role at Home-Start. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but the comprehensive training Home-Start provided gave me all the tools I needed. I was introduced to a family I would visit every Friday afternoon for two hours. My role involved offering emotional support, listening deeply, helping them access government and council resources, and simply being present—something many of our families don’t otherwise have in their lives. My background in working with people from different ethnicities and navigating the nuances of effective communication has been invaluable here. Listening sounds straightforward but learning to be truly attentive and attuned to what each family needs is another matter entirely. Everyone wants to feel heard, yet so many people don’t. That part of my role at Home-Start has brought me the most joy. After one year, I began working as a therapist for several Home-Start clients, a step that involved deeper, longer-term support. I am now in my third year with Home-Start, working with therapy clients who have been seeing me for over a year. It has been such a joy to watch them grow and develop. They have benefited enormously from what Home-Start offers, and just as importantly, so have their families. I feel truly honoured to be part of the Home-Start volunteer family, helping provide much-needed emotional support for families in our city. Today, I work as a therapist supporting mothers and fathers with children under five, and I look forward to continuing this work for years to come. This has been the most humbling, uplifting, and gracious experience I could ever have imagined.