Meet the Ambassador- Tania James Ambassador lead for Books and Banter

We chat with Tania James, lead ambassador for Books and Banter and the new Cinema Club about her time as a volunteer; what made her sign up and what she loves about it!

How long have you been volunteering with SPW? 

I joined SPW soon after my separation in 2018, but I really started attending events with my children after lockdown and like many wondered why I did not attend earlier. What a wonderful and supportive community who understand the unique challenges (and joys) of parenting single handedly.  

What made you sign up? 

As my children have grown(they are now 13, 18 and 21) I found I had the time to attend adult socials and also wanted to support this amazing community. After attending the wellbeing workshops in 2023 I decided to become an ambassador.

Tell us about Books and Banter and why you started it? 

I found some of my local friendships and social connections did not survive Covid and had naturally shifted as my children grew and became more independent. I wanted to expand my social circle and was also looking locally for a book club so decided that I would establish one for SPW and we held our first meeting at Chapter Arts Cardiff in November 2023. We meet on the last Wednesday of the month and we’ve since grown with an active WhatsApp group and an online book club established in 2024 by Cerys Protheroe my Buddy Ambassador.  

Because we are such a diverse group of individuals connected by a love of reading and the single parent journey we have a monthly theme, put forward and voted on by our members. The first three themes for 2025 are ‘New Year, New Books, New You’, ‘Food Memoirs’ and ‘Fiction’. Themes are deliberately wide to act as a guide and inspiration but really the group is about connection and anyone with an interest in reading is welcome. As the name suggests it is as much about the banter as reading, we are known as the chattiest group on WhatsApp, with our daily banter. Some members are active on all three platforms and others dip into one or two and this is great as it makes that social connection more accessible for everyone.

What does volunteering with SPW mean to you? What does it bring to you? 

Volunteering for SPW has brought me a sense of purpose and connection which I think are vital for our well-being and I have made many friends along the way.     

What do you like about volunteering with SPW? 

 The support and training opportunities at SPW are amazing and because SPW is based on a co-production model volunteers can use their own ideas and autonomy to create events that fit with their own family situation and skills, whilst being supported in a compassionate space.  

In other communities I have encountered a biased view that single parent households are in a negative situation faced with deprivation. But SPW events are filled with positivity and a safe space to share the challenges of being in a single parent household. Volunteering never feels like work, it feels like being part of a nurturing community where you can give and receive. 

How did Cinema Club come about? 

Rachel Cule and I were chatting during one of the regular one-to-ones you have as an ambassador, and the return of Bridget Jones came up. We both said we should set up an event, to see the film on opening night, which was also Galantines Day. The cinema is one activity that some find hard to attend solo but sitting in the dark, forgetting  about anything that has been bothering you or you are worried about has always been an escape for me. We had twelve book and attend and fantastic feedback and with that cinema club was established. The March event, The Last Showgirl, starring Pamela Anderson is now available to book.  

What do you do in your spare time? 

I like to spend time outdoors and my daily walk with the dog is definitely one of my happy places. I love good food and a glass (or two) of wine and spending time with my family and friends. We recently moved into our own home again, 8 years after separating and I am so  excited to create a beautiful family home and tackle a very overgrown garden. 

 What are your career aspirations?  

I am an aspiring Counselling Psychologist and hoping to be offered a place on a Doctoral programme in September 2025, to continue my training. 

What would you like to be doing in 5 years? 

This is such  a good question and was my mantra when I first separated, ‘count to five,’ knowing in five years thing would be much more settled, and they are. Travel is definitely on the horizon for me and hopefully I will also have graduated and be settled with my own counselling practice.