Parent champions: Meet the team

I am responsible for Line Management of the Early Years Engagement Officer and ensuring that the uptake of the childcare funding entitlements in Swindon remain high by engaging with parents, carers and other professionals to raise awareness of the funding entitlements, assist with obtaining funding and providing support to find the most appropriate childcare setting for children.

I have set up and now  manage the Parent Champion Scheme in Swindon, providing the volunteers with training and ongoing support as well as feeding our local information into the National Parent Champion Scheme.

I also Co-ordinate the Hungry Little Minds Scheme in Swindon which focuses on supporting parents and carers to help develop language, literacy and communication skills in 0 to 5 year olds within the Home Learning Environment.

I have over 11 years of childcare experience with children aged 0 to11 years. I hold an NVQ Level 3 in Childcare & Education, Foundation Degree in Early Years & BA Hons in Early Childhood Studies.

I joined the Early Help, Early Years and Childcare team in May 2019 as an apprentice and as an Early Years Support Officer, working towards an Apprenticeship in Business Admin Level 3. I qualified in July 2021 and progressed to Early Years Engagement Officer.

I can help you with:

• childcare entitlements including 2 year funding and 3 and 4 year funding
• supporting families in accessing their Early Years Childcare entitlements
• giving advice to other professionals regarding Early Years Childcare entitlements
• PEEP sessions

I volunteered to be a parent champion because I know how wonderful but equally challenging and isolating being a parent can be. I was on extended maternity leave and I wanted to give back to my community and make a positive impact to families in my local area by making them aware of how to access what is available to them.

I am now back to work and still volunteering as I enjoy being part of such an amazing team.

I have 15 years experience within Early Years and Childcare, in nurseries, pre-schools, holiday clubs and most recently as a childminder, in the UK, Turkey and France.

I am level 5 qualified in Early Years and Young Peoples work force, advanced practitioner. I also have two beautiful children under the age of 4 myself. 

I chose to become a Parent Champion so that I can engage with families and share my knowledge and experience within childcare, funding entitlements and provide learning and play activities to do at home.

I love the Parent Champion Scheme because it gives me the opportunity to provide information to families about services and play opportunities they may not realise are out there for them. 

I am more than happy to help you with: 

• 2, 3 and 4 year funding
• providing information about your local services
• sharing local baby and toddler groups
• helping to make decisions on your Early Education services
• providing learning and development play opportunities you can do from home

I became a Parent Champion because I enjoy chatting with parents and giving them information to support with their childcare needs. I have a particular interest in helping to support parents and carers who have children with additional needs. 

I became a Parent Champion Volunteer in August 2022 and since then I have supported members of the Early Years and Childcare team with events such as stay and play groups, information stands and reading and literacy events. 

Since joining the volunteer scheme I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and expanding my own knowledge on the Early Years entitlements and Universal Family Services in Swindon.

The best thing about being a Parent Champion is meeting new people and sharing information about childcare funding with them. One thing I like about volunteering is the opportunity it provides to help others in the way they need most.

I love to volunteer because it helps to improve my inter personal skills such as communication. The best way to communicate with me is to be honest and up front and be clear and concise.

I volunteered to be a parent champion because I know how fantastic, amazing, wonderful being a parent is.

I want to help my community by making positive impacts for families in my local area by making them aware of how to access what is available to them and where to go for that information.