Light up someone's day

Baby Buddies volunteers at Selwyn Village Rest Home

Once a week volunteer mums take their babies and toddlers along to Selwyn Village Rest Home for a play group. The residents chat with the mums whilst the children interact, play, or sing songs. It’s a very rewarding experience all round.

Here's what two of the regular mums had to say:

“A child can really light up your day and it’s really nice to watch my toddler make a connection with a resident. And it’s also very rewarding to see the big smiles on the resident’s faces.” - Gitta

“A lot of the residents are a long way away from their own children and grandchildren, so the playgroup is a chance for them to play with the babies, see them grow up and have a cuddle. My older son gets to meet people who he would not normally meet and I love hearing the compliments I get about my new baby boy.” - Carolyn

Group activities include singing, reading stories, and there’s nearly always a birthday to celebrate and that means cake!

The programme was introduced by Selwyn's Diversional Therapist Orquidea Mortera, she says:

“The visits bring back happy memories for residents of raising their own children. The visits also add to the enjoyment of life, inspire optimism and provide a greater feeling of belonging and community”

And there are other benefits too. For new mums who may have no close family nearby, the visits offer a chance to meet others and provide valuable socialisation opportunities for their little ones. It’s a winning situation for all. By bringing people together the visits are having a big impact on people’s well-being and quality of life.

See volunteers in action in

Find out more about volunteering with Selwyn Village