Life of A Volunteer - Dancing Down Those Wards

When I first signed up to Radio Lollipop, I was simply looking to restart volunteering after taking a break. I knew that time was the resource I could genuinely give, something small but meaningful that could create moments of joy during difficult days. As Valentina Ballerina, my wonderfully chaotic Lollipop name, I spend my Sunday evenings visiting wards, chatting with children, playing games, and bringing silliness wherever it's allowed.

Some of my favourite WOW moments have been the smallest ones: a child breaking into a smile after a tough day, or watching someone's mood lift simply because they get the autonomy to choose a song or explain the rules of a game. I've learned that play has endless interpretations and Jenga can transform into a race-car track if you let it, and UNO sometimes includes rules that require jumping around the room for reasons I still don't fully understand. Then there's the singing. While my voice is not exactly West End ready, with enough confidence (and the right amount of dance moves) it somehow always entertains the children.

What keeps me volunteering now is the community, as the passion among fellow Lollipoppers is contagious. Radio Lollipop is a charity that protects its children and volunteers, creating a space where joy is intentional and safe. The pictures below, all of us in our uniforms at different shifts/events show how even at the end of a session, everyone is still smiling. That energy, that sense of shared purpose, is exactly why I come back week after week.

I started volunteering because I wanted to give my time. I keep volunteering because those hours have become some of the most meaningful in my week, which is more than enough to keep Valentina Ballerina dancing down those wards.