VOLUNTEER AWARDS
Volunteers recognised
V
olunteers across Newcastle have received much deserved recognition at an annual awards ceremony.
Support Staffordshire hosted its 2021 Newcastle-under-Lyme Volunteer Star Awards virtually on Tuesday, June 8. The awards aim to: recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements and commitment of volunteers and organisations who go the extra mile to support our communities. To watch the virtual award ceremony, go online to: www.youtube.com/channel/UCALwWQP47FS0Z JuAa2YuPNQ.
Personal Achievement Award Winner: Carly Leese - Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service In her nomination for Carly, Helen Wood said: Carly volunteers for SFRS and Safe+Sound in Newcastle (and other areas). After some tough personal challenges, Carly started taking a counselling course to teach her to provide counselling for others, she will qualify in 2021. She started volunteering for SFRS in July 2019 when she supported Safe+Sound in Newcastle. She has grown in strength and confidence and is now a highly valued member of our volunteering team, providing her services as host at Safe+Sound events. Carly s help is invaluable and she helps the children attending Safe+Sound really get the most out of their visit she meets and greets the children and teachers on arrival, and helps them as they move around the Fire Station between workshops. As her confidence has grown she has really started to take ownership of the hosting role and is now comfortable to be left to monitor time and keep workshop partners on track with delivery. Teachers attending events have commented on the smooth operation and organisation of events which is due, in no small part, to Carly. Carly deserves to win as she has overcome huge personal challenges and
volunteering is really helping her regain skills and confidence. She is a motivated, enthusiastic and willing volunteer who is a pleasure to work with. Commendation in the Personal Achievement Ward category went to: June Handy at Caudwell Children; and Mike Clayton at Sting.
New Volunteer Team of the Year Winner: Windmills Charity (Leeanne Clay & Zara Toussaint) In David Hughe s nomination for the Windmills Charity, he said: Created in 2019 this fledgling charity was the brainchild of two organ donation specialist nurses. Whilst conducting their normal duties they perceived a monumental lack of support for children and young people when someone significant in their lives receives terminal diagnosis/prognosis. The aim of Windmills, which is now a registered charity and is run on a nonprofit voluntary basis by Leeanne and Zara, whilst holding down full time jobs, is to solely preserve and protect the physical, emotional and mental health of children and young people in Staffordshire. When someone significant in these young peoples lives is dying, or has died they provide bespoke, focused and supportive acute bereavement care. Their service is free of charge and absolutely anyone can refer to them, whether they be a family member, teacher, healthcare professional, friend .the list goes on. Windmills is now receiving referrals from all sectors of the community thus proving it is a much needed service in Staffordshire, and I feel that both Leeanne, Zara and Windmills deserve some recognition. Commendation in the New Volunteer Team of the Year went to: Whitmore & District Active Living Group.
Volunteering Support for Young People Winner: Stephanie Mayer - Maryhill Children's Centre In her nomination for Stephanie, Kate Tomson-Rayner said: Stephanie has been volunteering at the children s centre for just under a year. She attended the centre activities with her children and wanted to give something back.
