Volunteering Stories
On the 9th of February 2006 Islington Volunteering Association and Islington Volunteer Centre hosted an event to mark the end of the Year of the Volunteer 2005 and to celebrate the dedication and achievements of volunteers within the borough.
Organisations throughout Islington were invited to nominate their volunteer of the year, all of whom were presented with a certificate at the event. Special awards were given to particularly inspirational volunteers, you can read about their impressions of volunteering, and of the event, below.
Shirley Haxell – Islington Volunteer of the Year
Shirley was named Islington Volunteer of the Year for her work at the New Park Day Centre for Older People, in addition to her other volunteering commitments.
"I go in to the centre four days every week and help out generally with whatever needs doing – helping people off the buses in the morning, looking after them during the day, for example cutting up and serving food at meal times, helping with toileting or taking them on outings in the summer. I also do some escorting on the buses and answer the phone in the office, and generally just try to make the centre a happy, cheerful place.
I started volunteering at the centre after I retired from work. I was already doing escorting work for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and Arthritis Care, so I knew about these kinds of clubs and that people went to them. I’ve also volunteered for St John’s Ambulance for 47 years.
I do it because it gets me out of the house and stops me looking at 4 walls! It’s nice to meet people and give them a bit of a social life, a better quality of life. I would encourage other people to get out there and volunteer, to give something back"
Gill Payne – Joint Winner of Outstanding Contribution to Community Volunteering Award
Gill was nominated by Saneline (Mental Health helpline) for the invaluable contribution she makes as a dedicated and highly skilled helpline volunteer.
"My career in volunteering started when I was made redundant by a posh bank. It was during a spell as a bereavement counsellor in a hospice that I heard about Saneline but it was as a result of a New Year’s resolution that I moved there in 1998. When I’m not Sanelining I work as a healer and help out with a local cancer support group providing relaxation and healing.
Saneline provides emotional support and information not just for people coping with any sort of mental health problem, but also for their relatives, friends and colleagues. After a rigorous training course I committed to a weekly shift on the helpline. Just recently, as well as taking calls, on some shifts I provide additional support for new volunteers and help encourage best practice. Last year I also set up a mentoring programme to help more experienced volunteers through Saneline’s accreditation programme and gain an NVQ3.
The work is often demanding as callers may be distressed or frustrated. Sometimes just encouraging a caller to talk about their situation is enough or perhaps Saneline can put them in contact with a helpful local group they were unaware of. However, it can also be very rewarding and at times you really feel that you have made a difference.
I was honoured to be invited to the award event at Islington but had no idea that I was going to win an award. I felt as though I had won an Oscar! Consequently my memories of the evening are a bit of a blur but I remember that the food was excellent and beautifully presented. It was so interesting to see the wide range of organisations represented and to hear about the valuable work that volunteers undertake often unnoticed, sometimes even dismissed as "just volunteering". I felt that the respect with which the award ceremony was conducted both recognised and celebrated all the unsung heroes whose cumulative contribution to society is enormous."
Dr. Stephen NG – Joint Winner of Outstanding Contribution to Community Volunteering Award
Nominated by the Islington Chinese Association.
Dr. Stephen Ng is inspirational and an initiator for the Chinese and the wider community in the United Kingdom. Dr. Ng serves tirelessly for the community in promoting equality, fairness and civic conscientiousness within all his working and volunteer aspects. He single-handedly established the Chinese Elderly Project which is the only Chinese organization providing a five days luncheon club and meals at the home service in the United Kingdom. He has also established other innovative projects for the Chinese community in London.
"To serve is the ultimate aim in life. Helping people is helping oneself. The peace of mind and fulfillment in an enriched life relies on the betterment of the community as a whole."
Roger Valsler – Joint Winner of Outstanding Contribution to Community Volunteering Award
Roger was nominated for his work with the Young Engineers Challenge run at City University, as well as for his long term commitment to a number of other charities.
"Nanette and I arrived at the Union Chapel about an hour before the proceedings started and were amazed at the dark conditions which seemed to give the building a surreal feeling. However people already there were very friendly plying us with nibbles and talking about the different projects they were connected with. I have been so wrapped up with the Young Engineers Challenge (YEC) that I had given no thought to any other project although I realise there must be many running in Islington. After about half an hour and quite a few sausages etc two of the young people on the YEC arrived which pleased me. It is a great privilege to work with these young people when you get to know them they have so much to offer and they can be very funny, they are great ambassadors for City University.
After the film I lined up with about fifty other people, we were all grouped around a large pillar on one side of the stage in the half light and it was only then that I realised just how many people had turned up to support the event and clap the individuals as they stepped up to receive certificates.
A short while later three names were called to one side, one being me, individually we were brought up onto the stage to receive a very nice piece of glass with our names engraved on it stating that we had each made an outstanding contribution to community volunteering over the years. At this point I could hear the two youngsters from the YEC shouting out for me, it reminded me of my younger days when I used to race.
After the proceedings were over we had a drink with our friends, new friends as well as the rest of the guests in the upstairs hall. The two young people from the YEC Jake1 and Jake 2 presented me with a bottle of wine and a card to thank me for running the YEC. This touched me greatly, I had my picture taken with them and it is now the desktop screen on my computer. Many people came up to congratulate me during this time, most unknown to me.
I think I received this award because I believe in helping people BUT I am also well aware that it takes more than one person to help, it takes a team. Over the years I have been privileged to work on a number of projects from the Heart charity CORDA (who supported my research work) to the London Marathon to Age Concern as well as smaller concerns such as my local hospice and the local diabetic association. All of these concerns are worthy of support and all have given me a great time into the bargain.
I thoroughly enjoyed the evening at the Union Chapel and it is a very great pity that all could not be recognised. I wish the Islington Volunteering Association all the best for the future it does a good job for the people of Islington."