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Volunteers of the Year 2020

The awards sponsored by DoubleTree by Hilton Angel Kings Cross and announced by the Mayor of Islington, Cllr Burgess, at an online celebration on the 16th of December, 6-7pm.

Older Volunteer of the Year 60+:

Winner: Richard Longworth, Angel Shed Theatre Company

 

 

 

 

Angel Shed is a local, inclusive theatre company and registered small charity for children and young people in the borough of Islington.

Devoting up to 4 hours of his time each week, Richard supports Angel Shed as a volunteer practitioner and trustee representative, where he ensures volunteers’ voices are heard and acted upon at a senior level.

For the young members of the Children and Youth Theatres, he is a cheerleader and role model, co-star and stage manager, educator and listener. His kind, humorous and flexible support has helped to improve young people’s self-worth, emotional awareness, teamwork skills, behaviour and confidence. He goes above and beyond to safeguard, champion and support members. This has even included writing scripts for end-of-term performances and helping create online content to support young people during lockdown.

In recent months, Richard has also played an integral role in improving Angel Shed’s approach to impact measurement, fundraising and volunteer support: by devising a simple system to make fair and accurate assessments of children’s development while at Angel Shed, so any barriers to participation can be tackled and the members’ experiences and opportunities can be improved.

After 3 years in the organisation, he improved the confidence, inclusion and wellbeing of many young people in the community.

Commended: Lindsey Wylie, The Pilion Trust

Volunteering Team of the Year:

Winner: Food Hub Volunteer Team, Hornsey Lane Estate Community Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The food hub volunteers all came together at the end of March to set up and run a food delivery service to residents across the borough. The volunteers worked relentlessly to deliver food parcels to people who were shielding, in food poverty or had disabilities that prevented them for going out. The volunteer team was led by Nia, who was studying, a new mum, and a carer. Nia led a team of 26 volunteers that delivered two parcels a week for the first four months, and then after volunteers started to return to work, every Saturday morning. The volunteers were at the front line of the pandemic but never stopped turning up to help. Many of the volunteers were the only people that those who were shielding would see for the whole week. Any excess food was taken to the Whittington Hospital to ensure that NHS front line staff were fed.

Thank you to Nia, Claire, Rory, Rolo, Awen, Kevin, Alison, Harry, Andy, Camilla, Tim, Seline, Jack, Geraldine, Ellie, Suze, Alison2, Bobby, Kaycie, Jamie, Catriona, Sarah, Amira, Steve, Patrick, Rodrigo and David!!!!!!

Commended: Islington Mutual Aid Groups

Commended: Arsenal in the Community Volunteer Team

Commended: Healthy Minds Healthy Bods

Highly Commended: IMECE Volunteer Team

Volunteer of the Year 26-60:

Winner: David Mallory, Age UK Islington and Healthwatch Islington

 

 

 

 

 

 

David started volunteering for Age UK and Healthwatch Islington in 2019. His main role in both organisations was IT tuition and support for Islington residents. He helped them to feel more confident with their devices, showing attendees at training sessions how to use the digital voice on their smartphones, set up email accounts as well as keeping safe online.

A few weeks into lockdown, digital exclusion was a reality and a big issue for many vulnerable residents in Islington. David has been involved in tackling digital exclusion in the borough since the start of the pandemic. He provided 1-2-1s, phone and zoom training sessions and also wrote knowledge articles on various digital subjects.

His communication, commitment, sense of responsibility, adherence to processes and procedures, IT knowledge and mentoring skills are impressive.

David has supported very vulnerable people locally who have complex health conditions and would be particularly isolated during lockdown.  His work has had a massive impact on the lives of many local individuals keeping them connected to friends and family during this difficult time and even making new friends!!

Commended: Jerry Nurse, The Pilion Trust

Commended: Jessica Ng, The Arc Centre

Highly Commended: Kate Cormican, Whittington Health NHS Trust

Pat Haynes Memorial Trustee of the Year:

Winner: Mrs Margaret Pitt, Culpeper Community Garden Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margaret has been a Trustee for over 20 years, and involved in the Garden since it was founded in 1982. During this time, she has served as the Chair, secretary & treasurer; and more recently has been their chief volunteer fundraiser. Over the past 10 years, Margaret has ensured the continuation of the Culpeper Project by successfully applying for funding from both large and small organisations. Her tenacity and determination to keep Culpeper going since its inception has been amazing. After all those years of her hard work and dedication, Margaret announced that she is resigning as a Trustee. She will be missed at the Culpeper Community Garden Association

Commended: Janice Walsh, Barnsbury Housing Association

Young Volunteer of the Year 16-25:

Winner: Mohamed Senusi, The Pilion Trust

 

 

 

 

 

Mohamed is a refugee from Chad, who was homeless in Islington in 2019. He moved into the Crash pad Youth Shelter, enrolled at college and was rehoused in February 2020 into a hostel.

At the start of the first lockdown Mohamed asked to help and volunteer at the Food Bank. He has been volunteering 3 days per week from morning to evening, giving out vegetables and advocating and translating for East Africans. He is back in college and he continues to volunteer 2 days per week. He has been doing this for over 9 months.

Mohamed is an amazing young person who has had to overcome so many things in his own life and he can still smile and give hope to others.

Commended: Alfred Maher, Hillside Clubhouse

Commended: Busra Yildirim, IMECE Women’s Centre

Commended: Lauren Conway, The Pilion Trust

To find out more about volunteering in Islington email the Volunteer Centre or visit the Volunteering Section on the website. Phone: 020 7832 580

Islington Volunteer of the Year Awards 2019

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