Natalie Murray: A Dedicated Social Worker's Philanthropic Journey

Natalie Murray has been a social worker long before she got a job as a social worker.

Her love for people, the desire to see them better their lives, coupled with her bid to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, have been the driving forces behind Natalie’s philanthropic efforts for close to 30 years.

It was no surprise to those close to her, when she received the Barbados Star Award during the recent Independence Day Ceremony, for her community work. This award was preceded by the Ermie Bourne (St Andrew) Award which she received from the Barbados Labour Party administration during their annual general conference in October, for her community work in Chalky Mount, St Andrew, where she has lived for most of her life, as well as in the country on a whole.

From a child, Natalie became concerned about helping the less fortunate, even though she herself, according to her, “came up in poverty.”

The former Chalky Mount Primary and Springer Memorial School student told Easy, “As I looked around I saw a lot of poverty. I always wanted to be in a profession where I could help people reach their full potential and better their lives. I grew up very poor. We had no running water or electricity. To watch television, we would go to the neighbour’s house. My parents had four of us at the time. Things were very hard.

Natalie left the Springer Memorial School without any CXC subjects.

She eventually enrolled at the Barbados O’ Level Institute, and went on to work in various fields, including data entry. When the opportunity arose for her to gain a place at the Urban Development Commission (UDC), she was more than happy, simply because she was in a position to help others. She joined UDC as a clerical officer in 1999. When she was sent home from that organisation in 2009, she had already held posts as senior clerk, assistant accountant, and research investigator.

Looking back, she spoke of her love for the job.

“Urban Development taught me that while I thought I was really poor, when I saw the conditions under which others were living, I was not as bad off as they were. As a research investigator I would always write compelling reports so it would force the hand of my boss and individuals would get the help they needed.”

When she was sent home in 2009, it was a trying time for the friendly and caring Natalie.

“It was a very challenging time in my life. I had a mortgage . . . bills to pay, and by that time, I had made it to the University of the West Indies where I was studying social work. There were very dark days, but God brought me through.

“I was unemployed for 18 months. That’s when I realised that when a person is unemployed they are invisible. When you are not working, people don’t want to be bothered with your stress, but God kept me.”

Indeed, there was a silver lining to Natalie’s dilemma, in that she went to university full-time, and gained her degree in social work.

Another silver lining presented itself when she was offered a position at the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW). She entered that trade union as a recruiter, and left in 2016, as an industrial relations officer.

Her leaving, she said, was orchestrated by God.

“I stayed at the NUPW for five years. It was in 2015 that God told me to leave. I told him I couldn’t leave. I remained, until one day I heard His voice telling me, “You will walk out of there or . . .”.

Natalie obeyed.

She went on to work at a day care facility, then a boutique. In 2017, she joined the staff at the Ministry of People Empowerment as a social worker. However, she resigned last April, as once again, she felt God impressing on her heart, that it was time to move on.

PRESIDENT OF BARBADOS ALLIANCE to End Homelessness Kemar Saffrey (second right) speaking about how the work that had to be done before they opened the 24-hour shelter as (from left) nurse Cheryl Blackman, client relations manager Rica Edey and social worker Natalie Murray listen in. (Picture by Jameel Springer.)

Today, Natalie can be found at her new post – that of social worker at the Barbados Alliance To End Homelessness.

“I love working at the shelter, and with the homeless, and being able to offer them hope while working to integrate them back into society. I know it was God who led me there,” Natalie affirmed.

In fact, she stressed, “I was given a prophetic word in July 2023 that I would be working there. Then I got the word again in August. Then out of the blue, Saffrey [Kemar Saffrey] called and asked me if I knew any social workers. I told him, ‘Yes, I am a social worker and I am currently not working’. That’s just like God. He did it.”

Natalie is quite pleased that the shelter” is now open 24/7,” and that “any Barbadian can come to this safe place, get rest, be connected to relevant services, and be rehabilitated back into society.”

The social work she has done over the years, especially in her community, is phenomenal. She has hosted Vacation Bible School for some years, started reading programmes, and as a children’s ministry leader and prayer ministry director at the Chalky Mount Seventh Day Adventist Church, conducted evening classes at her church, as well as in collaboration with teachers in the community, and the Ministry of Education, at the Chalky Mount Primary School.

Her decision to be an advocate for the rights of people in general has also witnessed her taking a stand to make certain that people whose properties are on tenantry land, are made aware of their rights to purchase the land. She has also advocated for a better bus service for school children inSt Andrew, and started the agriculture community programme through the Ministry of Agriculture, where she held talks in her bid to organise the young people to pursue agriculture as a viable alternative. This is still in its embryonic phase.

In June 2022, Natalie launched a non-profit organisation, called Nat’s Prayer Café – a mobile café, which now sees her going around to businesses and individuals in communities to pray and offer encouragement. She hosted a prayer breakfast at the NUPW in June; a national prayer breakfast at Ilaro Court last month, and also staged Prayer Explosion in Independence Square last year.

There is much more that Natalie has accomplished and continues to do. Her message to young people is to be community-minded; “give back to your community,” and “help the elderly.”

The advocate stressed, “People think that you can only do philanthropic and social work when you have lots of money. You only need to have a big heart and be aware of the resources out there. In addition, I cannot do anything without God.”

And so, this big-hearted young woman continues to give of her time to God and the betterment of Barbados, one person at a time.