Priya is Daniel’s Den Service Delivery Administrator and Volunteer Coordinator. She joins the team as a Mum who used to bring her own children to the Daniel’s Den playgroups.
From Parent to Team Member: My Journey with Daniel’s Den
My journey with Daniel’s Den began as a local mum looking for a friendly place to bring my young daughters. I first came along simply wanting somewhere local and welcoming for them to play especially as most of my friends had returned back to work after maternity leave. What I found was so much more.
During the Covid pandemic I would follow Daniel’s Den on Facebook and watch their live videos with my children. Then in 2021 I saw an advert to help with decorations and at that time my husband and I were exploring the idea to start party planning business, so I offered to assist with the balloons setup. I then also attended one of the snipping sessions where all the volunteers come together preparing materials for the craft. This is where I saw how much Daniel’s Den are community driven organisation and not just a toddler group.
In 2022, I officially joined the Daniel’s Den team as the Service Delivery Administrator. Stepping into a staff role felt like a natural next chapter. My work now focused on helping ensure the smooth running of sessions and supporting the dedicated team that makes it all happen. Over the past three years, I’ve learned so much about coordination, communication, and the behind-the-scenes effort that keeps Daniel’s Den thriving.
In 2024 I was invited to assist Jo Gordon the Founder and CEO at the new session in Alperton every Thursday mornings. Here the Gujarati community was very big at the time and with me being able to speak Gujarati this would help the families with a familiar face. After a few months Jo decided to step away from leading this session and appointed me as Session Leader. This made me feel proud but also very nervous as I have never been comfortable or confident enough to lead a group and talk in a large group on my own. This role built my confidence very high and enabled me to really be in the heart of the community. I learnt to really care about my role and be enthusiastic about promoting Daniel’s Den. I feel it is important to be involved in a session as then you really understand the vision behind Daniel’s Den. It also gave me a sense of purpose to the work I was doing.
More recently, I’ve also taken on the role of Volunteers Coordinator, which feels like a full-circle moment. Having started as a volunteer myself, I truly understand the difference each volunteer makes. It’s incredibly rewarding to now be in a position to support, encourage, and celebrate others who give their time and energy to help families in Brent feel connected and valued.
Looking back, my journey with Daniel’s Den has been one of growth, gratitude, and community. What began as a place I came to with my children has become a space where I’ve grown personally and professionally. Daniel’s Den has not only supported my family but given me the opportunity to help other families find that same sense of belonging and joy.
I’m proud to be part of this wonderful organisation and to continue contributing to its mission — helping parents, carers, and children in Brent flourish together.