Meet the Team: Sophia Wakeman, Youth Worker at Little Miracles Fenland

Introducing Sophia!

Sophia is a Youth Worker at our Fenland branch, and has been with us for two and a half years (soon to be three!). Sophia’s story with Little Miracles began in an unexpected way. Initially, she joined in a different role, but her interest in understanding every aspect of our organisation brought her to the Fenland branch near her home. She met our incredible young people and was instantly drawn in by the sense of community and belonging she felt. “I just never stopped going,” she says.

What She Loves About Working Here

For Sophia, the word that best describes her experience is community. “I’ve been a part of Little Miracles for so long now; it just feels like home,” she shares. She values the supportive, close-knit environment with both her colleagues and the youth she works with. According to Sophia, “the young people are simply amazing”—and it’s clear she’s dedicated to making a positive impact on their lives every day.

In an interview below, Debbie Merry, one of most loyal volunteers and the person in charge of our caravan holidays tells us why she started volunteering for Little Miracles and what she gets out of her experience of volunteering for us.

Let’s introduce yourself. Tell us your name, what organisation you are representing, and your volunteer role!

Hi I’m Debbie and my volunteering role is Caravan admin. Little Miracles have a Caravan in Norfolk and I deal with the advertising and booking of breaks. I additionally liaise with the Caravan site with regards to repairs. 

How long have you been volunteering with Little Miracles?

6 years 

What made you decide to do volunteering?

One of my friends asked me to help her out with the Caravan admin and I was happy to step in. I have been doing it on my own now for about 4 years. 

What is the best thing about your time volunteering?

I enjoy helping out and knowing that I make a difference. I am contacted by members at all times of the day with caravan queries. I have been known to be doing caravan work whilst lying on my sun lounger round the pool in Majorca! 

What is the most challenging part?

I think the most challenging part is being so far away from the caravan (it’s 75 miles from me) There are quite a lot of maintenance issues and it would be nice to be able to just pop over and check what’s wrong. 

What contribution or achievement are you most proud of?

I suppose I am most proud of doing it all on my own. There are usually about 50 bookings a year, so that is a lot of work but also a lot of happy people having an affordable enjoyable holiday. 

What motivates you to stay involved in volunteering?

I enjoy the work and am happy to give something back to this great charity. 

What would you like to say to anyone who is considering volunteering?

Do it! It’s very rewarding and you’ll really make a difference to other people’s lives. 

We are so incredibly grateful to Debbie and all of our volunteers. They positively impact the lives of our families and in Debbie's case can help families get a break and some time together at what could be the very lowest time of their lives.

If you would like to volunteer for Little Miracles and help us to be here for more families, please follow the link below to find out more or email us at volunteering@littlemiraclescharity.org.uk.

 

 

Why did you start working for Little Miracles?

I have a 7-year-old son with Autism and development delay; he is non-verbal and attends a special needs school. In the past, I have been reluctant to take him to busy places on my own in fear of comments from other people - I had someone at a soft play centre tell me my son 'is not a baby so to get him out of the baby area'. I also heard a parent tell their child that my son was lazy because he was in his SEN stroller. I consider myself thick skinned, but when it's your child they're talking about it pulls on the heart strings.  
My son's Education Health Care Plan states that he is ‘at risk of social isolation’, and with me getting increasingly anxious about taking him places on my own, this risk increased. I attended some local sessions of a community group to mix with like-minded families; this later became the Nottinghamshire branch of Little Miracles. I was asked if I wanted to volunteer as I have 14 years experience of being a teaching assistant. I also have a background in admin work, so was able to help behind the scenes as well.
I ended up having to give up work as my son's needs became more challenging; the volunteering work helped me to feel like I was still able to put my skills to use but gave me the flexibility to care for my son when needed.
It is thanks to volunteering for Little Miracles Charity that has helped all of my family come some way to reducing our risk of isolation.

Hello! I am Vicky, a volunteer at the Nottinghamshire Branch. I have been volunteering for around six months now, but I've been attending Little Miracles events since last Easter, and really feel like I've found our tribe.

I’ve been working at Little Miracles since October 2023 but been volunteering for a while.

I love working at Little Miracles as I love to learn different disabilities and additional needs and I love learning new way of supporting families.

The reason why I joined Little Miracles is because I’ve got a niece who had additional needs.