Volunteer Stories - Anne-Marie

Volunteers' Week 2026

Hi, I'm Anne-Marie, based in Wick, Caithness. I volunteer as a breastfeeding peer support worker for NHS Highland. There is a small team of us that cover the whole of the Highlands on a rota system, offering peer support to new mums (and their partners) throughout their breastfeeding journey.

When delivering my wee boy, there were some complications that if it was not for the fast action and amazing skillset of my midwife, we may not be here to tell this story. I was in sheer awe at how, in the face of an emergency, the NHS rallied and turned the situation around. I was so grateful to them and wanted to give something back. I'd been lucky to be able breastfeed my 3 children, so had lots of experience and advice I could give to new mums. A midwife suggested joining the volunteer group of breastfeeding peer supporters, and 10 years on I still absolutely love being able to help new mums. It's an honour to give them support, tips, advice, or sometimes to just be someone to vent to about anything they want, as I've been there, and having someone to talk to that gets it is so helpful.

Doing the small thing of listening, to empathise, understand, and help, when someone feels vulnerable, sleep deprived, and sometimes at the end of their tether, is something small that I can easily give, which can make a huge impact on a mum and her baby.

NHS Highland put the volunteers through a very good course prior to actively volunteering. There are continuous training opportunities, the infant feeding support coordinator keeps in touch with the volunteers, and the group are very supportive of one another. I made some lovely friends during the initial course, and we all still volunteer!

Most of the volunteering is done via text messaging, though I do call mums when they prefer to chat. I had one mum who was feeding and feeling overwhelmed, and no matter what their partner did or said, they couldn't seem to do anything to help. Having a really good chat with each of them individually then together brought out what they both needed to say and to hear. It was all there already, they just needed someone outside of their relationship to talk to, to align their thoughts, and reassure that they were both doing a fantastic job. Breastfeeding can feel all consuming for a mum, but there are so many things a partner can do to help when the baby comes, and it sometimes just needs talked through, without judgement, without an appointment, just a telephone call when they needed it. I really didn't do much, but it had such an impact on this family that it reaffirms to me that the voluntary work we do is special.

There is so much more value in the help you offer to people because you are willingly giving it...you are not paid to do it, it's not your job to be there for them, you do it because you want to. Because you care. And there is nothing more rewarding than seeing someone thrive by the small actions you've taken. Volunteering has such a community spirit, you will be surprised how much you gain from giving your time!