Care Plus volunteers in the spotlight
Two Care Plus volunteers stepped into the spotlight in the South Staffordshire Volunteer Star Awards 2021.
The annual event recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements and commitment of volunteers who go the extra mile to support local communities.
The awards were unable to take place in 2020 but with large scale events still not possible, organisers Support Staffordshire felt that it was more important than ever to showcase the wonderful work of volunteers. They therefore took the decision to go virtual, with a live presentation broadcast on YouTube.
We were delighted when Care Plus volunteer Matt Randle was revealed to be the winner of the Personal Achievement Award. Matt, who first got involved as a lunchtime support assistant in Corsers Court, overcame very significant personal challenges to help residents with their shopping during lockdown.
Asking simply: “How can I help?”, Matt went on to keep people stocked-up and safe. To do this, he had to learn how to manage a supermarket shop for the first time, adapt to wearing a face covering and cope with changing routines in a very uncertain world. As housing and wellbeing manager Nicky White-Salt told viewers of the awards: “He has become very much a part of the Corsers Court family and we are looking forward to working with him long after lockdown has lifted.”
Also recognised at the awards was volunteer Mandy Southall. Mandy had previously volunteered to run bingo sessions at Vine Court, where she quickly became a firm favourite with residents. During lockdown she made regular telephone calls to the friends she had made at Vine Court. While she was suffering from COVID-19 and finding it difficult to speak, she knew how important those links had become to people isolating in their own homes and kept in touch by text.
Mandy received a commendation in the category of Volunteering Support for the Over 65s.
Underlining the value that Care Plus places on the contribution of volunteers throughout our communities, we were also very pleased to sponsor one of the night’s awards. Engagement and volunteer co-ordinator Sarah Wilson sat on the judging panel and made a virtual appearance at the event to announce the winner of our award, in the category of Volunteering Support for Young People. The Care Plus sponsored prize went to Kinver resident Andy Calloway who collected donated computers to support home schooling.