Interviewer 

Could you start by telling us your name, age, and what member group you’re representing today?

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones

Of course. So I’m Janessa Rhys-Jones, aged 35. So, I volunteer with Songs & Smiles at a care home, helping the leader put on the music for the residents in a care home.

 

Interviewer

Do you do it at multiple care homes or just one main one?

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones 

Just the one at the moment. I’ve looked into more, but it’s currently tricky with childcare and everything.

 

Interviewer

And which care home is that?

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones

It is the Tower Bridge Care Home.

 

Interviewer

What first inspired you to get involved with Songs & Smiles?

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones

So I actually first of all went along just as a – not just – but as a mom with my daughter. I can’t remember how I had heard about it, but, so I went as a participant rather than a volunteer and it was great fun and I just happened to get talking to Eliza who said that often there are helpers at the sessions and that she didn’t currently have one. And I thought, “Well, I’ve really enjoyed it and it’s clearly a lovely experience for everybody.” I just found out that they were looking for someone so I was like, “Ooh, I would love to” . That was that really.

Interviewer

Could you talk about what you do at Songs and Smiles and how your position has evolved since the start?

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones

Of course. So I tend to write out name badges for all the residents and the children that come and their parents as well so that when we sing the “Hello” song, everyone is named personally. So it feels like we are a big group of friends and family rather than just strangers. And then I will help hand out any instruments or scarves we use and collect them back in when we finished. Basically help Eliza make everyone feel welcome, especially you know, if it’s their first time it can be a bit daunting. As a new mom, especially, any class is daunting, so helping them feel at ease. It can also be, I guess, a challenging environment sometimes if you have not met someone with dementia. Not many of us are around the older generation that much. And yes, just helping everyone: where to park your buggy, or where the bathroom is, where can I change a nappy? – that kind of thing so that Eliza can focus on delivering the actual music class, if that makes sense.

 

Interviewer

Awesome. And what year did you first get started with Songs & Smiles?

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones

So I’m quite recent. I first started September last year. My youngest was born in July and then I was looking at things I could do with her and I found this and I hadn’t heard about it with my older two children, so it was lovely to find and I wish I had. I wish I’d known about it sooner, so I’m still quite new to it.

Interviewer

Do you have a favourite memory or any story about one of your experiences at Songs & Smiles that you would be willing to share?

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones

Yes, I’ve got lots. There’s a couple. One that does really stick in my mind is of a lady who used to be a nurse and a midwife and often through the sessions it looks like she’s not really participating. You might think that she’s fallen asleep or that she’s not interested and then at the end, I’ll never forget handing over my daughter Efra and the physical change in her face was incredible. When she held her it was like she came to life. It felt like you could see her. It’s really hard to express, but she came alive basically. And it was really just beautiful to see that something almost as simple as giving a baby a cuddle could change her entire feelings, if that makes sense. There was another time a couple of residents have had birthdays and Eliza always asks every week, has anyone had a birthday? And obviously when it’s the children they’re all very excited because we sing “Happy Birthday.” But I remember one gentleman welling up that we were all singing “Happy Birthday” to him and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room, considering for a lot of people we are just strangers effectively – especially if you’ve not been going that often. But it feels like everyone there is family.

I think there are a lot of people that would find it difficult. You know, if it’s your first baby it’s very easy to want to never let anyone hold them, especially a stranger, especially an older person who you don’t know, who might not remember how to hold a baby or something. Every session I’ve seen with new people, they’ve always said, “Would you like to cuddle my 10 week old baby?” And I think there’s something about the people that come along that make it work, if that makes sense.

Interviewer 

That’s beautiful. Do you have any other experience volunteering in your life?

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones

I do. I used to volunteer at this amazing charity called Maytree. I do hope it still is around, I sometimes feel like I would like to Google it and I’d love to go back. It’s like a respite center for people who feel suicidal. So it works in sort of two ways. One that you can ring and talk to a volunteer if you’re feeling suicidal, but also offering 4-5 bedrooms, offering a residential stay for people who needed that time in a new space to talk face-to-face with people, which was amazing but tricky to give the time that was needed when I had children because obviously it runs 24 7 and you needed to do nights and things, which is tricky with children, but was an amazing place. So.

Interviewer 

So, as someone with all of this volunteer experience, do you have any advice for people who would like to start volunteering or are very new to it?

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones

I think it might sound really obvious, but I think volunteer in something that you are interested in, passionate about. You don’t have to know anything about it, but I think if you are passionate then that comes through. So I think, let’s say you’re volunteering with children, obviously being sort of interested and having a genuine care for children will help masses and help you get the most out of it. And also I think not being afraid to sort of ask for help from someone who knows what they’re doing. Because the first few weeks of volunteering at Songs and Smiles, a couple of residents say something or something to you that makes you feel a bit self-conscious.

It can be difficult to know, how do I handle this? You’ve said, “Can I have your scarf back?” And they’ve said “No.” And you’re sort of like, “What do I do?” Because obviously you don’t wanna get into an argument. I can be quite self-conscious. And the first time it happened I went bright red and I was like, “Oh this is so embarrassing.” And then I was like, hang on. And I just spoke to Eliza and she said, “Don’t worry, we’ll get it at the end. Just say that it’s fine if they want to keep it.” And I was like, “Oh that’s really simple. Why didn’t I just do that?” So I think not being afraid to ask the silly questions basically and enjoy it.

It’s an amazing way to meet friends and I come away feeling so happy at the end. It’s only 45 minutes, but it really lifts my day no matter what’s happened before with the three crazy children. It’s always wonderful.

Interviewer

Awesome. Well those are all my questions. Is there anything else you would like to add or anything you wish people knew about Songs and Smiles?

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones

It really is, you know, it’s amazing. It’s not just that it makes you feel good, but, I feel like I’m giving back to the community, not just in a financial way. I think sometimes it’s easy to just say, “Oh, I’ll just donate some money” and, obviously money’s hugely important, but actually giving up your time is obviously just as important really.

 

Interviewer

Well thank you so much. That was awesome.

 

Janessa Rhys-Jones

Thank you.