Check out our latest YouTube video about the Voluntary Action Coventry Sapphire Volunteering Award event!
And the winners are!
We would like to share the Voluntary Action Coventry Sapphire Volunteering Award Winners and Runners Up. Another big round of applause for your time and dedication. Well done!
Impact of volunteering on an individual
Winner: Dudley Stringer
St Francis Employability
He won: Trophy, £100 high street voucher, afternoon tea
Dudley Stringer has been volunteering at St Francis Employability for the last 8 years! He has developed a “family” and meaningful relationships through his role. He has been on hand to support their ever-growing IT systems and is always around if members of the community need support. He is always looking to help others.
Runner up: Somya Mishra, Impact of volunteering on an individual
Coventry Cyrenians
SOMYA came to the UK in 2015 and started volunteering once a week with Coventry Cyrenians in order to build confidence and network they are incredibly grateful for her ongoing commitment. She has developed a real interest in supporting people on their journey to a secure home.
Outstanding volunteer
Winner: Gail Jones
Chair, Coventry & Warwickshire Mind
She won: Trophy, £100 high street voucher, afternoon tea
Gail Jones has been connected with Coventry & Warwickshire Mind for 25 years. Initially starting as a volunteer befriender, she supported a number of individuals who due to their mental health were extremely isolated and wouldn’t go out alone. Whilst continuing to give her time as a practical volunteer Gail in 2006 joined the board as a trustee. In more latter years Gail transitioned into Vice Chair and in 2021 took over as Chair. She has always ensured that the needs & voice of people with lived experience are at the fore of any decision taken and has been the instigator of change that has seen CW Mind become the successful organisation it is today, reaching in excess of 35,000 people each year.
Runner up: Terry McDonagh
NMC Midlands (Muscular Dystrophy Support)
In 2014, Terry McDonagh connected with NMC Midlands (working name Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre (MDSC), through a volunteer advert posted with Voluntary Action Coventry. She immediately set herself to working on whatever was needed – from reception to database input to financial and fundraising reporting/accounting. As a 1 to 2 day per week volunteer plus emergency cover, her dedication, quality of work and diligence was beyond what we could have hoped for, and she quickly became an indispensable part of our small team.
Best Practice in volunteer involvement
The Enterprise Club for Disabled People
They won: Trophy and £250.00 donation
The Enterprise Club is a long-established charity in Coventry that provides social and leisure activities for all disabled people. The club operates day and evening sessions involving day centres, handicraft group and sports evenings. They are heavily reliant on volunteers in bringing members to the club in their 3 adapted minibuses, operating a coffee bar, organising games and acting as befrienders to the members. There can be as many as 50 volunteers helping during a year, many of them have been with the club for over 20 years.
Runner up: Activity Club Coventry
Over 30yrs ago Mary decided to set up a Voluntary Charitable not for Profit Organisation to support people into a variety of activities. As years have gone by the Activity Club helped support hundreds of families, providing training for parents and young people to become the future leaders of tomorrow. The Activity Club engaged parents and provided training in Archery, Abseiling, First Aid, Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities and many more training opportunities that would not only support the club and parents but help young people towards work, this went on their CV’s and went a long way to finding employment over the years.
Thank you to Neil Catley for volunteering his time taking wonderful photographs at the event
