Doing something

Earlier this week I joined in with a Facebook thread about one of the latest child abuse scandals with the upshot being me wanting to do something to make a difference, even if just a tiny one. Or to at least explore how “people” can do something instead of just raging against it, feeling sad or angry or impotent or all three and more.

We know the authorities are stretched beyond their limits and that this is just not going to change in the immediate future – even if the money was there to provide the support needed, it needs a whole rethink as to how to apply that support, I suggest.

And there are  brilliant, vital charitable organisations doing amazing work for children; we are happy to donate to these – the Children in Need fundraiser hits new highs every year – it’s humbling that we do this even through lean times for so many of us.

But other than this, and if we don’t have much to give financially, what can we do? Because there must be something and I would love to know what you think.  I’m going to do something, as much as I can, however small, to make some kind of difference.

First of all I popped into my girl’s primary school yesterday to arrange to help with pupils reading. They always need more volunteers to sit with the children and listen, perhaps guiding where useful. Whether I can commit to the greater amount of time needed to take that a step further in order to help the children who need more help, I’m not sure – working full time kind of limits that. But what if my time helped a child or two to read and therefore feel more empowered? Is that worth me shuffling my working hours (which I can do, being my own boss)?

What else can I do? That is what I want to understand. What are the options?

Please help with this – what do you suggest, what is your experience? Even the cynical, the wary, those who wish people like me would stop interfering/thinking they can do something. Do share this post so we can get as much of a chat going about this as possible. Even doing that is going to make a difference.

Thank you

Babs

photo credit: FUNKYAH via photopin cc