Kisharon depends on its 120-strong army of volunteers and without them at least two services would cease to function, says Volunteer Administrator Mark Sillito. “No matter how much time is given, every hour counts, and every hour makes a difference,” he says.

Volunteer Sarah Adler sets to work in the Childs Hill Library garden

But it isn’t just a one-way street. Making sure that volunteers benefit from their Kisharon experience is hugely important. Mark himself is a case in point. He joined Kisharon as a volunteer and is now a permanent member of staff.

Pure joy and the knowledge that children with learning disabilities have ability and can learn, is the reward in volunteering for Parisian Ariéla Zerbib, who teaches French to three classes at Kisharon Noé School, Kisharon Wohl Campus. “These children are most definitely able. There are no limits,” says Ariéla, whose daughter Salomé is a pupil in Basil Class.

For Hilary Castle volunteering at Kisharon filled the gap following the sale of her family’s shoe repair business. “I wanted to do something more rewarding. The JVN sent me to Kisharon Noé School to see if I might like to volunteer there. One of the profoundly disabled boys saw me and his smile lit up my heart.”

For volunteer Lisa Silverbeck, Chaim Dovid, who Kisharon supports, is almost a member of her family. Lisa said: “I take Chaim Dovid to Slimming World, and horse riding, and he helps with my errands. I’m learning Hebrew and we work on the vocabulary together, and every week he gives me a talk on the Sedra.”

Mark says: “The Kisharon volunteering family is very special and they are always willing to pull out all the stops. Sometimes I ask for something which I know is a bit of a stretch. But it always gets done. We really appreciate the efforts of every volunteer.” Hear more from our volunteers at: https://www.kisharon.org.uk/how-you-can-help-us/volunteering/volunteering-opportunities/

Interested in volunteering? Email: volunteer@kisharon.org.uk