Action for Children staff attend the Royal Garden Party
Every year, people from across the UK are invited to attend the Royal Garden Party to recognise the positive impact they’ve had on their community. This year, Action for Children’s Raj and Amarjit were both invited.
Raj and Amarjit both work at Birmingham Children's Community Centre, where they’ve been for 22 and 18 years respectively. They work with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
They provide support for children aged 0-19 and their families, and offer a range of services like one-to-one and group support, parenting groups, sleep counselling, carers café, stay and play, short breaks creche and holiday play schemes.
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When we asked Raj and Amarjit what day-to-day life was like at Birmingham Children’s Community Centre, their passion for their work and the families they support was clear.
Amarjit said “no day is the same at Birmingham Community Children’s Centre! It is a busy environment with groups being delivered and families coming and going.”
“Working with children and their families is so rewarding. Every child is unique and seeing them achieve brings so much joy.”
You get to go home knowing you have made a difference.
Raj also highlights how her heritage helps her reach her community:
“Being of Asian heritage really makes a difference to the families we support. They know there’s someone who understands and supports them on their parenting journey.”
Together, they make a huge difference for children and their families throughout Birmingham.
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Raj and Amarjit’s invite to this year’s Royal Garden Party is a nod to their incredible work throughout the Birmingham community, and the vulnerable children and families they’ve helped.
We asked them what their day was like at the Royal Garden Party:
Raj: “It was an honour to be invited to the garden party – it was such an amazing day. It was lovely for Amarjit and I to come together and celebrate our time working together. And what better place than Buckingham Palace!”
Amarjit added: “It was like a dream come true! The sun was shining, and it was such a beautiful day. Attending the garden party and seeing the royals is a once in a lifetime experience; one that we will remember for a very long time.”
What is the Royal Garden Party?
The Royal Garden Party is held each year by the Royal Family. It’s held in the gardens of either Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland. And the aim of the event is to celebrate the amazing work of people across the UK.
At the parties, the members of the Royal Family talk to people from all walks of life, listening to their stories and the amazing work that has brought them to the day.
Who is invited to the Royal Garden Party? And how are they invited?
People are invited personally as a way of acknowledging their public service. They are nominated for invitation by sponsors across the country, such as Government departments, local governments, and societies and associations.
Having worked alongside eachother for nearly twenty years, Raj and Amarjit’s friendship has been important in helping them deliver such support. Raj told us that their friendship at work is “both nurturing and caring”:
"We have a tremendous amount of work to deliver but it's worth it and we make a great leadership team for the centre."
“Because we know each other so well, we can always tell when the other needs a pickup. Work and personal lives can be stressful and challenging at times, but we lift each other up, even if it’s just a listening ear or giving the other ten minutes of time to themselves.”
“We want to ensure a positive vibe throughout the services and the staff, and together we achieve that.”
We’re so proud of Raj and Amarjit and the impact they’ve made in Birmingham. Thanks to them, vulnerable children and their families have received the valued support they need. And couldn’t be happier for their well-deserved day of royal treatment at the Royal Garden Party.
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