Last week, Community Volunteers Wales (CVW) had the wonderful opportunity to visit Year 1 and 2 students at Risca Primary School to talk about community. With a long-standing relationship with the school, and our founder Tara Holloway-Scott as a Co Founder of CVW and a parent governor, this visit was particularly meaningful. The children’s curiosity about their topic of community was inspiring, and one of their questions stood out: “Why do you volunteer?”—a profound and simple inquiry that reflects the spirit of what we do at CVW.
At CVW, volunteering is about fostering connections and ensuring that no one in our community feels alone, afraid or hungry. We know that community spirit starts early, and the insight of the children only reinforced this. One child remarked, “Everyone needs a companion,” a powerful reminder that the need for connection is universal, no matter our age.
Connection at the Heart of Everything We Do
Much of our work at CVW, particularly during the pandemic, has focused on using Makaton and sing and sign to bring people together. Tara’s journey with Makaton started in her role as a learning support assistant in an Additional Resource Centre (ARC) for ASD students. It was during COVID, though, that sing and sign became an essential part of our outreach. Dawn, our other co-founder of CVW, connected with Karen Baxter, a Sing and Sign tutor, and together they brought sing and sign sessions online. These videos, which are still available on YouTube, helped us stay connected during an unprecedented isolating time. The sessions kept hands and minds busy, creating a sense of wellbeing when we needed it most.
This experience sparked our application for funding from Caerphilly County Borough Council to expand Sing and Sign further, and while Tara is still learning the practice, it has been a joy to incorporate it into our coffee mornings and community work. The opportunity to share this with the children at Risca Primary felt like a natural extension of our mission to reduce loneliness and create connections.
Our Visit at the School
During the visit, we spoke about how volunteering helps to build a stronger community. The students eagerly shared their own experiences of helping others and how it made them feel. We also learned Makaton signs for words like lonely, scared, hungry, community, friend, and happy, emphasising that not everyone has the support they need and how we can all play a role in changing that.
The Sing and Sign session with the children was truly joyous. They fully engaged with the activity, and it was the perfect way to show how keeping our hands and minds busy can bring happiness while fostering community spirit. The enthusiasm in the room was palpable, and it was clear that these young students already understood the importance of looking out for one another.
We are incredibly thankful to Risca Primary School for the opportunity to engage with their students. The question, “Why do you volunteer?” was answered through our actions. We volunteer because we care about ensuring that no one feels left out. It’s about building a community where everyone has someone to turn to—a friend, a companion, someone to listen. Through volunteering, we create those vital connections, and in doing so, we all find a sense of belonging.
Tara Holloway-Scott
We had a wonderful time at the school, and this experience reinforced the idea that community spirit starts early. Together, we are creating a stronger, more compassionate community. Want to get involved with our Sing and Sign? Contact Us today to learn more.
