Driven by passion not profit – working in the voluntary sector in Derby

By Molly-Jo Burnett, children’s service manager, St James Centre, Derby

I’ve been working with children who have additional needs at the St James Centre in Derby for over a decade now, and I love every minute of it.

I work with around 120 children with additional needs ranging from mild to moderate and ensure their families can use the short breaks facilities we offer to help and support the children, giving them new experiences. The children are so lovely and their needs are wide and varied but seeing their smiles and progress makes the work so rewarding.

We run five ‘short breaks’ clubs during the week including two on Saturdays. Wednesdays for example we go skating at Rollerworld, and on Saturdays we split it between the under-8s in the morning and older children with profound and complex needs in the afternoon. We also support young people in transition – those aged 18 and sometimes up to 20 who are still in education and even do 1-1 for those children who do not manage in group settings.

So, in my role I help to manage the funded hours for the families, as they usually get around 50 per year. It’s not a lot, but we space it out carefully, checking in every three months to make sure it lasts for them throughout the year and making alterations as needed.

Alongside the clubs, we also run holiday sessions and try to give the children great new experiences like laser quest, swimming, fun fairs and many more. I send out brochures to the families so they can choose what works best for them and they all really enjoy it.

I started here as an apprentice and I’m the only one they’ve ever had! I trained one day a week and learned on the job the rest of the time. I qualified at Level 3, became an office assistant, and in 2016 was promoted to my current role. Since then, I’ve seen hundreds of children come through our doors – some stay, some move on, but many I’ve known since the very beginning.

What makes the St James’ Team special for me though is the family feel. Many of our staff have been here for years, and we work so well together. Families tell us they feel welcome and supported, and that’s the best feedback we could ask for.

The voluntary sector itself is also really powerful because it’s driven by passion, not profit. We face challenges with funding and often make a loss on contracts, but we fight to keep services going because our young people deserve it. Everything goes back into the service. We’ve built strong links with schools, social workers, and external providers, and together we support families who often have nowhere else to turn.

What keeps me here is simple: the children. Giving them a safe place to be themselves, to access opportunities that mainstream settings don’t always provide, is everything. Watching them grow, seeing their progress, and building relationships with families is beyond words.

Would I encourage others to do this job? Absolutely. It’s not for everyone – you can’t just leave it at the door – but if you’re the right person, the rewards are incredible.

I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Everything I could have wished for is what I’ve got here. My hope is simply that the funding continues, so we can keep these projects alive for the families who rely on them.