A charity which focuses on developing young children’s brains wants to expand the programmes it has on offer but needs more volunteers to make it happen.

The BSMART Foundation, on Cedar Avenue, in Hamilton, already has a busy schedule of after-school groups, camps and play-based toddler drop-in sessions.

But those involved with its work believe it can offer more to the island’s young people and are hoping to attract new volunteers, even those with little spare time on their hands.

Verde Brown, a full-time accountant and mother of one, was prompted to start volunteering for the charity after reading a front-page article in The Royal Gazette last year, when founder and director Allison Figureido made an appeal for corporate sponsorship.

Ms Brown, who is now the charity’s volunteer fundraising chairman, said: “We want to do more events and more programmes geared towards kids, but that takes manpower. It just needs more people doing it.”

She said the charity would welcome those even with very limited time to give, because any amount would help.

“On a typical week, I usually only volunteer two hours, if that — it all depends on what they need,” she said.

“Previously, BSMART did have a marketing volunteer, but they had given notice that they do not want to be involved, so I stepped up.

“I’m just filling a gap, but I am not a marketing person.

“Volunteering for BSMART also does not necessarily mean being involved at the facility.

“We need computer expertise to help with document sharing or networking solutions or making ads or posters for BSMART events.

“It’s true it’s a struggle [to make time for volunteering] but the adage of ‘many hands make light work’ really is true. I want to make it work. I want to do more.”

Ms Brown often takes her two-year-old daughter Aiva to volunteer at weekend toddler sessions and said it was a good way of making friends with other parents.

“We have met a lot of families through volunteering at BSMART,” she said.

BSMART’s toddler drop-in sessions — on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9.30am to 12 noon — cost $20 but the charity hopes to raise enough funds, to provide free entry to those in need.

Its next fundraising event is a wine tasting — Vinos for Bambinos — at Gosling’s Wine Cellar on Saturday, May 13.

Tickets are $75 and available from www.ptix.bm/vinosforbambinos.

To find out more about volunteering, e-mail bsmartfoundation@gmail.com or call 295-6909.