Everyone can help this worthy cause

10:18am Wednesday 12th March 2008

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WHEN Rick Horton's sons flew the nest he decided he wanted a new challenge in his life.

With the extra time on his hands and the sprit to help children, a friend told him about Worcester-based Noah's Ark Trust and suggested he become a volunteer.

Now, four years on and after training, Mr Horton is a family mentor for the trust and visits children at home and in school, helping them to understand their feelings and work through the grief.

"I was looking for a bit of fulfilment," he said. "I was a school governor and I felt that I wanted to try something else. I did look into becoming a magistrate but I couldn't give the time they wanted. So I decided on Noah's Ark."

Although rewarding, it can be a very emotional journey.

"Working with the trust can be a real heart-breaking experience. You really want to help cure everybody. As a parent I could usually help my boys. You can't do that when you are a volunteer. Kids get upset but you can't wave a magic wand. But what you can do is give them the tools to cope and talk things through with them. But you can also laugh with them and give them the encouragement they need at the camps to go out and do stuff, interact with others and help them realise they aren't alone."

Mr Horton, aged 53, said he gets immense satisfaction and enjoyment working for the trust - and thinks everyone can help in their own way.

"If they don't have the time to volunteer then I would say stick your hand in your pocket and donate £5.

"If anyone gives money to a charity they always will want to know what they are giving to. This is just such a worthy cause," he said.

Mr Horton, who lives in Wythall, near Redditch, said he was excited with the prospect of the charity getting its own base.

"It is a great idea to have its own base. Where it is now, while it is good from the business side of things, if it has something of its own it could make it comfortable for visitors and somewhere people could make their own."