When 68-year-old Ruth Kershaw retired after two decades of childminding, little did she know she would still be supporting families 15 years later.

The grandmother of two recently marked her volunteering milestone with Home-Start Bradford District.

She has supported more than 30 families for the charity, which supports parents with young children under five.

“I just love children,” she said.

“I always make sure that I sit down with the family and find out how they want me to help.”

Ruth added: “When a family is ready for my support to come to an end, you really feel that you have been on that journey with them. One mum gave me a gift of a frame that she had made herself, which said ‘there is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer’ – that really meant a lot to me.”

Ruth is Home-Start Bradford District’s longest serving volunteer and sometimes supports two families at a time as the team have a waiting list of families in need of volunteer support.

Home-Start Bradford District is appealing for more grandparents to share their lifetime of parenting experience with its families.

The next volunteer preparation course starts on Wednesday, September 14. For more information, call 01274 666711 or visit homestartbradford.co.uk/volunteer

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