Volunteer Life
Imogen Thompson writes about the ups and downs of her time as a MAHM volunteer media spokesperson.
I was planning a celebration for our 10th wedding anniversary. In the busy lead up to the party, and as a result of my MAHM membership, I was approached to be interviewed for a regional news programme about the married couple’s Transferable Tax Allowance and what it might mean to me as a stay at home parent. After the interview was over, I bundled my two year old daughter into her pushchair and rushed off to the school sports day, never realising that was just the beginning…
I’ve now been on the BBC Breakfast red sofa – twice (!), interviewed on Woman’s Hour, helped organise an event at the House of Commons and have sat in my parents-in-law’s bedroom while speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live. Each experience has been nerve-wracking, but mostly fun and satisfying. Hopefully it helps to get the message out there about the importance of family time.
My most interesting experience so far? Being taken up to a BBC studio in the same lift as Boyzone has to top the most surreal moment of my media appearances!
Myself and the other BBC Breakfast guest were waiting to be taken up into the heart of the building at Salford Quays for an interview on ‘infant bonding’, when we were told that the famous boy band was about to arrive! We were all to be escorted into the building together. Now, I’ve never been a fan per se, but the experience made me smile. It definitely took my mind off my nerves. My interview went well, it was a relaxed discussion and I managed to get most of my points into the conversation.
It’s a shame that my next interview wasn’t quite so laid back. A researcher from BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour phoned me while I was laying the table for dinner to ask if I would be prepared to go into the studio the following morning. The kids were hungry and dinner was almost ready. The initial call launched straight into a semi-interview on the topic – how did I feel, what would change my views, what does it mean to households with one income? You have to think on your feet. George Osborne, then Chancellor of the Exchequer was about to deliver his Budget speech and he would announce further help for families in which all parents worked. Once again the substantial contribution of mothers (and fathers) at home caring for their children would be ignored.
By this point my children had found a dressing-gown belt and were pulling each other on their bottoms across the kitchen floor laughing and screaming their heads off in the background! I was surprised that the lady could hear a word but she scheduled the interview for the first slot after the 10am news and a car was booked to pick me up.
During the quick phone call to my in-laws to ask for their help looking after our youngest I managed to burn the chips. This should have been a warning sign!Some days just don’t go to plan do they? The taxi the next morning was late, not just by a few minutes but by half an hour, which meant letting the Woman’s Hour team know my exact location every five minutes and re-directing the driver onto a shorter route. I arrived on the outskirts of Media City, Salford at 10am exactly and ran the last 100metres to the studio. Now I may be a flamenco dancer in my spare time, but I don’t do running! I announced at the desk, trying not to sound like a complete diva, that I was on Woman’s Hour NOW! They ushered me quickly into what looked like a black port-a-loo in the corner, gave me instructions to put the headphones on and speak into the microphone. They shut the door and all I could hear was the sound of my own deep breathing trying to catch my breath back before the interview began.
The interview was not as smooth as it could have been, I didn’t count on the rushed journey affecting my ability to find the right words. However, I managed to get a few points out and argued the case that the Chancellor’s announcements rendered stay at home parents as nothing more than inactive economic units of no value to society, which as we know is far from the truth!
I had a chance to reflect on the interview on the way home. It made me realise that as a voluntary organisation we are often put up against paid executives with training and years of experience in dealing with the media. We are not paid, and it often involves preparation through the night or for weeks beforehand. When faced with the likes of the Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation putting a case for the Government to help mothers back to work – but not to offer equal help to provide care at home, it makes me want to campaign even harder for fairness in policy making.
At this point I would like to take the opportunity to thank the members of my family who often make the 20-mile journey in the early hours of the morning to look after the children when I have had meetings and also my friends who listen to all my adventures afterwards! Their indirect support of MAHM and their words of encouragement are invaluable to me and I just want them to know that I appreciate it very much.
Who knows what future discussions I’ll be asked to take part in – but I’d prefer more Boyzone than burnt chips please – and so would my family!
Imogen Thompson