She became our Grandma Paula

Sharena was just four years old when her mum died. 

Her sister was six, and her baby brother, Raj, was only a few months old. 

“When she died, everything changed,” Sharena says. 

Her dad, once a busy businessman, was suddenly raising three young children on his own, trying to work, care and cope with overwhelming loss.

“The house felt empty,” she remembers. “My dad was navigating this completely new life without my mum.” 

A new presence 

Not long after, someone new came into their lives. 

“I remember first meeting Paula at a school sports day,” Sharena says. “I saw this older, well-dressed lady pushing Raj in a pram, walking alongside my dad.” 

In her culture, affectionate nicknames come naturally. “So, my dad introduced her as ‘Grandma Paula’.” 

The name stuck. “Grandma Paula gave me such a warm smile. From that moment, she became a huge part of our lives.” 

 Bringing warmth back 

Paula began visiting regularly through the charity Home-Start, supporting the family through those early, difficult years. 

“Paula really understood that we had lost so much,” Sharena says. “She let us play and be children again.” . 

For her dad, it meant having someone by his side during an incredibly challenging time. “He could rest, run errands, or simply step away knowing his children were safe and cared for.” 

For the children, it meant something just as important. “She gave us time, attention and love,” Sharena says. “She made things feel normal again.” 

The moments that mattered

Some of Sharena’s strongest memories are of the small, everyday moments they shared. 

“Grandma Paula used to sit with me while I read,” she says. “She’d bring books and help me practise. I was behind for my age, but she was so patient.” 

Paula had been an English teacher, and before long, their visits became something special. 

“We had our own little reading classes,” Sharena says. “It was completely different to school. I could make mistakes with her, and over time my confidence grew.” 

Learning became something joyful. “She made it fun,” she says. “There were always little rewards—trips to the zoo, the aquarium, the circus.” 

Paula saw something in each of the children. “She was brilliant at spotting our strengths,” Sharena says. “She believed in us.” 

A belief that stayed 

That belief didn’t fade as the children grew older. 

Paula remained part of their lives long after those early visits—right up until she died in 2016, aged 91. 

“We were so lucky to have had her,” Sharena says. “She wasn’t just a volunteer, she was family.” 

Looking back, Sharena can see just how much that support shaped her life. 

“I honestly wouldn’t be the person I am today without Paula,” she says. “She inspired us to be better.” 

A future she helped shape 

Years later, when Sharena was accepted into the University of Cambridge, one person was on her mind. 

“I so wish I could have called Grandma Paula,” she says. “She wouldn’t have believed it—but at the same time, I can picture her saying, ‘I always knew you had it in you.’” 

That belief stayed with her. 

“Having someone who believes in you when you’re young makes such a difference to your future self.” 

Today, Sharena has built a successful career—working with organisations like NatWest Group and Microsoft—and is now an entrepreneur, public speaker and campaigner. 

“My childhood taught me so much,” she says. “From my dad, I learned resilience and hard work. From Grandma Paula, I learned to enjoy learning—and to believe in myself.” 

A lasting legacy 

Home-Start supports families with young children through some of the most challenging times in their lives - offering practical and emotional support through trained volunteers. 

For Sharena’s family, that support came at exactly the right time. 

And it was only possible because of a gift that had been left to the charity. 

“That one decision made such a difference to our lives,” she says. 

It’s something she still reflects on. “Someone we never met changed everything for us.” 

Help create a child’s new beginning 

Leaving a gift in your Will is a simple but powerful way to support families in the future, ensuring they can access the kind of help Sharena’s family received when they needed it most. 

Gifts in Wills help Home-Start continue to be there for parents and children facing difficult times—providing trusted volunteers, emotional support, and practical guidance in the home. 

Your gift could help more children grow up with stability, care, and the belief that things can get better. 

Find out more about leaving a gift in your Will and request your free guide: 
https://www.home-start.org.uk/leave-a-gift-in-your-will