Exciting Announcement: New Volunteering in Childcare Project to Support Ethnic Minority Women in Childcare by Shining Stars Cardiff CIC

We are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking initiative that embodies our commitment to community support, inclusion, and empowerment. Over the past few months, we have been diligently working on a project designed to support ethnic minority women in Cardiff and support the work we do with the children at our nursery.

Volunteers receiving a certificate of appreciation for all their hard work at Shining Stars.

Why We Created This Volunteering in Childcare Project?

We have always worked closely with volunteers, many of whom come from an ethnic minority background. Through our ongoing engagement with them, we have gained valuable insights into the challenges they face when trying to access employment and volunteering opportunities.

Many have shared their struggles with language barriers, lack of qualifications, limited work experience, and low confidence in their abilities. Recognizing these barriers, we felt compelled to take action and create a meaningful initiative that would not only support our existing volunteers but also reach a wider number of individuals who could benefit from structured training and mentorship.

This project is our own initiative, developed in direct response to the needs we identified through our work, and we are excited to make a real, lasting difference in the lives of ethnic minority women in Cardiff.

The Benefits for the Children

Having ethnic minority women volunteer in our nursery school brings invaluable benefits to the children in our care. By working as assistants alongside our professional team, these volunteers provide positive role models that reflect the diverse communities the children come from.

Exposure to different languages, cultures, and traditions enriches the learning experience, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of diversity from an early age.

Additionally, children benefit from additional support in the classroom, creating a more engaging and nurturing environment.

About the Project

Our initiative, titled Empowering Ethnic Minority Women Through Volunteering in the Childcare Industry, is aimed at helping women overcome the barriers they face and gain the experience they need to enter the workforce. Through this program, we are creating a pathway for them to gain hands-on experience, acquire essential childcare skills, and enhance their employability.

The project seeks to recruit and support 40 volunteers over the next two years—20 in the first year and 20 in the second. These volunteers will work as nursery assistants to support our team of professionals in early years education, gaining practical skills and knowledge in child development, learning processes, and working effectively with young children. Additionally, we will provide tailored training, ongoing mentoring, and a supportive learning environment to help them thrive.

By removing barriers and promoting inclusion, we hope this initiative will strengthen community cohesion, enhance well-being, and celebrate cultural diversity, making a lasting impact on both volunteers and the children they support.

Why This Matters

Our project has been shaped by extensive research and consultation with key stakeholders, ethnic minority women, current volunteers, and nursery school staff. Here’s what we found:

Community Consultations: In November 2024, we conducted focus groups with 15 ethnic minority women in Cardiff to understand the barriers they face when accessing volunteering opportunities. The main challenges identified were language barriers, lack of awareness of available roles, limited confidence, and absence of prior work experience.
Volunteer Surveys: Our surveys with existing volunteers revealed that tailored training, mentoring, and flexible volunteering opportunities are crucial for engagement and long-term retention.
Nursery Staff Input: Early years educators emphasized the importance of having trained volunteers who can foster inclusive learning environments that reflect the diverse backgrounds of the children in our care.

Collaborating for Success

To ensure our project is impactful and sustainable, we have been working closely with local community groups, volunteer networks, and government-supported organisations, including:

Women Connect First and SRCDC, who have expressed their support for promoting diversity in volunteering.
Volunteer Wales and C3SC, who provided insights into best practices for volunteer engagement.
Social Care Wales/We Care Wales, Cardiff Council’s Into Work Service and Volunteer Cardiff who highlighted the demand for trained, culturally competent individuals in the childcare sector.

A Major Milestone: Funding Secured!

We are incredibly proud to share that our project has received the backing of the Welsh Government’s Volunteering Wales Main Grants Scheme, administered by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), which has awarded us a grant to support our efforts over the next two years. This funding will play a crucial role in making this initiative a reality and we are extremely grateful for their support.

One of the key aspects of this grant is the ability to hire a Volunteering Coordinator. This role will ensure that each volunteer receives the best possible support, making their experience meaningful and truly beneficial for their career development and personal growth.

Cindy Lim, Director at Shining Stars Cardiff CIC, shared her enthusiasm for the project, stating, "We are absolutely delighted to launch this initiative, which will make such a meaningful impact on ethnic minority women in Cardiff. With this support, we can remove barriers to volunteering and create a truly inclusive and enriching experience for both the volunteers and the children they work with."

Looking Ahead

With all the wheels set in motion, we cannot wait to bring this project to life! We are excited to share updates, success stories, and opportunities for involvement through our website, social media platforms, and community networks.

We believe this initiative will make a real difference—not only in the lives of the women participating but also in the wider community as we work together to create an inclusive, supportive, and thriving early years education sector.

Stay tuned for more updates, and if you’d like to get involved, become one of our volunteers or learn more, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Together, we can empower ethnic minority women, foster diversity, and build a stronger community!

Contact us by email: shiningstarscardiff@gmail.com or over the phone (07812 459535) to chat about our nursery and how you could become part of our volunteering team.