Team Member
Ruth Ward
Board Member & Fundraising
Hi, my name is Ruth and I was born and grew up in and around the Wolverhampton area. I had the most wonderful happy childhood and was lucky enough to be part of a generation before technology took a hold of our lives, therefore it was enriched with plenty of outdoor exploring and playing games that entailed having to find and make your own entertainment, including using any large cardboard box.
> I am the youngest of 4 children, although as there is such a large age gap I am nearer to my nieces and nephews in ages than my siblings. Family means the world to me, we are a close knit bunch and frequently holidays can consist of a property catering for over 20 people and at least 2 dogs.
> My dream job was to be a nursery nurse, however I was steered away from this by well meaning advisors and ended up doing secretarial work starting at McAlpine's and then for a large Car Dealership in the West Midlands. I finished my office type positions as I had an opportunity to start my own soft furnishing business, which was very successful but my love of children never waned and as I started a family I found this type of manual work didn't fit in so well with all my new commitments.
> I was mostly a stay at home Mom only working a few hours at a call centre in the evening, during the day I would begin to get involved with the school where my two children were now attending. I would volunteer to support in lessons, read with children and go on trips. I then went on to have my third child who had complex medical conditions right from birth, life was hectic with a demanding family and there were always hospital appointments to fit in. I was totally orientated around children and their needs.
> Continuing to volunteer in school I then got involved with the PTA and eventually took on being the Chairperson coordinating fundraising like sponsored events, Summer Fair days and other individual activities aimed at having fun with all the family whilst raising money for a good cause. I followed this by becoming a Governor for Special Needs and when my term finished I applied for a part-time Teaching Assistant role within the same school.
> As a mother of two special needs children I had plenty of knowledge and experience to call upon. My understanding of Autism has been invaluable and I have now added another 16 years worth of experience from working in this role, predominantly with year one children but at times other classes up to age 9.
> Life hasn't always been easy, I have moved from one crisis to another and heart break has been no stranger either, mental health struggles have become more apparent in my older years as the burdens life throws you seem to test your capacity to deal with situations. I am not ashamed to say things have sometimes got the better of me, but I have come back stronger and wiser.
> I have a wide variety of friends and some close colleagues who I call adopted daughters, we enjoy holidays, socialising and days out together.
> My two daughters and my son are my world and seem to fill my waking hours still, I have a close relationship with all of them but the bond with my son is special.
> I have become a Grandma in the last three years andI feel blessed more than ever.
