The annual Parent Champions Awards recognise and celebrate the work of Coram Family and Childcare’s Parent Champion volunteers and co-ordinators, who support parents in their communities to access local family services. Over 400 people currently volunteer as Parent Champions nationally, reaching more than 100,000 families in the last year.
The Parent Champions Biggest Personal Development Award winner is Eva Balitskaya from Lewisham.
Stepping into the Parent Champion role required courage and determination for Eva, as it involved re-engaging with a professional environment after many years away. Through her volunteering, Eva steadily rebuilt her confidence, developed communication and leadership skills, and rediscovered belief in her own abilities. She embraced training opportunities, sought peer support, and became an active, reliable, and compassionate presence within the Parent Champion community. Her volunteering experience also enabled her to take her next significant step: securing employment as a teacher at a Lithuanian Saturday School.
Eva’s colleagues say:
“Eva’s journey illustrates how volunteering, when paired with determination, can unlock potential, restore confidence, and open doors to meaningful opportunities. She is an inspiring role model for other parents and volunteers who may doubt their own potential after time away from employment.”
Eva said:
“Winning the Biggest Development Award has made me realise how my Parent Champion journey has opened so many opportunities and positive experience that I never expected to have by volunteering. It has been rewarding, inspiring, and full of amazing memories. A huge thank you to Leila, our coordinator, for all the encouragement, guidance, and support, and to Coram for this recognition which inspires parents like me to continue learning, developing, and making a difference together.
“It brought me happiness to know that as I made a difference in many families’ life, I am also making a difference in mine. By giving away my time, energy, knowledge and heart, I received more blessings in return. I want to express gratitude of this award, and I will continue my voluntary work and self-development.”
Parent Champions National Network
The Parent Champions programme transforms the lives of families as well as the lives of Parent Champion volunteers.
Find out more