26 August 2025
Matched with a Family
Louise is in her third year of being a Home Support Volunteer at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. At the start of her volunteering journey, she was matched with two siblings of a Noah’s Ark Child, who were sad to see her go at the end of the set 18-month period. She is now halfway through her second match with Riffat, who is mum to Saad, aged 11. Saad has osteopetrosis, a rare genetic condition that causes bones to become very dense and brittle. Riffat also had a daughter, Zoha, who sadly died in 2020, aged 22, who shared the same condition as Saad.
We have been supporting the family since Zoha was referred to us in 2008 and Saad in 2014. We provide the family with fun days out, a dedicated Family Link Worker and all sorts of activities for Saad such as the hydrotherapy pool, music therapy and the sensory room, which he loves. Being the parent of a Noah’s Ark Child can be really challenging but Riffat has no family that live in the UK which means that she can feel lonely and isolated - that’s where Louise comes in!
Being a Home Support Volunteer
Louise loves being a Home Support Volunteer, she says "you meet some amazing people that you wouldn’t come across in your normal life’ and one of those people is Riffat. Louise and Riffat have both been teachers and they’re continuing that tradition by teaching each other all sorts of new life-skills. When Louise started visiting Riffat she would do gardening for her, Riffat didn’t have any gardening knowledge and was keen to learn. Louise says: ‘I first started going in May and it was peak time for garden improvement. While I was working on the garden, Riffat would come and bring tea, and we'd have a proper chat about all sorts of things."
Louise visits Riffat once a week and stays for two hours and during that time they share their experiences on a wealth of subjects from teaching to cooking. Louise says that during her time with Riffat their bond has strengthened, she says: "When Summer turned to Autumn and I couldn't garden anymore, I started doing indoor things like ironing and that’s when we really got to know each other."
Shared Interests
Cookery is another shared love and as Louise says, Riffat is a "brilliant cook". Riffat’s skills in the kitchen produce mouth-watering traditional Pakistani dishes but she wanted to grow her culinary repertoire and turned to Louise for help. Louise’s cookery skills are also excellent if slightly less exotic and she has taught Riffat how to make a chicken pie and quiche. Riffat adds her own signature spices to the quiche recipe to produce something unique and also a perfect metaphor for their match.
It’s not just recipes that are swapped, there’s also philosophical ideas and cultural and religious information, Louise says: "Riffat is devoutly Islamic, so she often explains things to me about her religion and The Quran. I'm more broadly spiritual and don’t conform to any particular church so I find it really interesting."
When Riffat applied for a Home Support Volunteer, she specified what she wanted out of the match was companionship. Louise says: "Riffat loves being with people, so I think I’ve helped with that, and we have developed a bond."
Volunteering with Noah's Ark
Louise goes on to explain her motives for volunteering at Noah’s Ark, she says: "I get a real satisfaction from helping someone who has so much on their plate. Whenever I think I have a lot on in my life, I know that it’s not on the same scale. I looked after my dad in his older years and saw him every day so when he passed away, I just thought, I need something else in my life."
Louise hopes her story inspires people to consider a future in volunteering with Noah’s Ark which offers complete flexibility and support. Our Home Support Volunteers are matched with a family for a maximum of 18 months to encourage a boundaried and professional relationship. If you're thinking of volunteering with us, Louise says: "Go for it! It’s very rewarding and you are really helping children and families, some of whom are really struggling."
You can find out more about our Home Support Volunteer service here or check out our volunteering page for more information here.
