Volunteers from local children's service scoop prestigious award
Volunteers from Starting Well Partnership were recognised for their outstanding contributions to Children, Young People and Families across Worcestershire at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust annual awards ceremony.
Every year, the Trust hosts its annual awards ceremony to celebrate the exceptional work undertaken by staff and volunteers over the last 12 months.
Over 100 volunteers work across the Trust, doing incredibly selfless work to support patients, services, and staff. Volunteers play a vital role within the Trust and the input, advice, and unique perspective they offer is invaluable.
Within the Starting Well Partnership, volunteers and peer support workers are integral to delivering the service adding significant value from Breast Buddy Peer Supporter providing support groups for breastfeeding parents to Community Hub volunteers who support the delivery of stay and play and parenting support groups. To find more information about the different volunteer roles available within the partnership visit the Starting Well Partnership website.
Louise Langston, Clinical Service Manager for Starting Well Partnership said: ‘Last year, volunteers dedicated over 685 hours of their time to supporting Children, Young People and Families. They are valued members of the Partnership, and we are delighted they won the Volunteer Award this year, it’s very well deserved.’
Maria Harrison, Breast Buddy Peer Supporter for Starting Well Partnership said: ‘We are grateful to have our contributions acknowledged and to represent all the volunteers’ delivering roles across the Partnership. As with many who volunteer we do this in addition to our jobs, family responsibilities and, at times, personal challenges. Yet, we get the reward of being part of a bigger team, have a sense of purpose and achievement, and receive validation for what we have to offer. It is also rewarding to see the affect, sometimes immediately, of the information/knowledge/support we share.’
The Starting Well Partnership provides support to parents, families, children, and young people to live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives across Worcestershire. Led by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, the Partnership brings together professionals from Barnardo’s, Action for Children, and Redditch Borough Council to support ‘parents to be’ and their children during the early years and as they move through school towards adulthood.
Pictured L-R: Charley Barker – Volunteer for Redditch Borough Council, Ruth Harper - Volunteer for Redditch Borough Council, Debbie Lamont - Volunteer for Action for Children, Sarah Oliver - Volunteer for Barnardos, Steve Peak – Non Executive Director at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, Sue Harris – Director of Strategy and Partnerships at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and Maria Harrison – Volunteer for Action for Children.