National Volunteers Week celebrates Doncaster volunteers reaching hidden carers

Here at Making Space in Doncaster, we’re incredibly fortunate to have the support of local volunteers who help us to reach hundreds of hidden carers across the town.

The Doncaster BAME social group provides vital support, friendship and resources to carers across Doncaster - and we couldn’t do it without the support of our volunteers.

Ramesh Pabial from Bessacarr in Doncaster, is one such volunteer. “The group is a loneliness breaker,” he says. “I’ve been coming here for five years, and it really hits home that everyone is equal regardless of where you are from.”

Mandeep Kaur agrees. “By volunteering with the BAME group, I get the opportunity to meet lots of different carers and provide a little support in any way I can,” he says.

The group was founded by Rosemary Stephen, carer support worker at Making Space and qualified interpreter in Urdu and Punjabi, in 2019. After a lifetime spent in social care, she has built up a wide network of contacts. Rosemary combined her language and networking skills to reach isolated carers from BAME communities and has recruited 16 volunteers to help reach as many carers as possible.

After initially hosting small groups with volunteers in minority communities, the groups became so popular they quickly outgrew their locations. So, Rosemary and her growing group of trusty volunteers combined the groups into one huge, weekly Doncaster BAME social group.

Rosemary and the volunteers used their networks to reach carers across the town, providing them with the practical and emotional support they need to attend the group. Everyone is welcome, and language is never a barrier: volunteers speak eight languages, members many more.

Now, the group has over 100 members from the Indian, Pakistani, African-Caribbean, Roma, eastern European, travelling communities and more. It’s taken on a life of its own and evolved into a place to learn about cultures, languages, cooking (no-one ever leaves hungry!), training and awareness in medical conditions, financial advice and support. Experts are queuing up to offer advice as guest speakers. Fundraising pays for fun trips and much-needed respite for carers.

Carer Neelam says of his involvement with the group: “Coming to the activities and going on the trips helps me to reduce anxiety and increase my confidence.”

His fellow group member, also named Neelam, adds: “I enjoy coming to group and meeting other carers. I get out of the house to socialise and release my stress and enjoy other carers company.”