Community Stars Awards: Volunteer

Catherine Larkin

The nomination reads: “Cath Larkin has been volunteering with the Healthy Lifestyles project in Bradford for more than four years. She is always punctual, well organised and dependable and she is a treasured volunteer and one that we cannot do without. She recently organised a seaside-themed day for our elderly group with lots of games, stalls, fish and chips and lots more.

“She assists our chef two days a week with our luncheon club and food takeaway scheme and has previously been involved in our befriending service, the running of our monthly wellbeing cafe, festive events and has helped support our elderly people with day-to-day activities such as accompanying them to the doctor or taking them shopping.

“Cath is forever supportive and always goes out of her way for others. She is a great listener and over the last four years she has built some fantastic relationships with all of our users.

“What makes her extra special is that despite all her troubles and health ailments, she will never let you down and is extremely loving and caring. She takes new volunteers under her wing and helps them to settle in. She has recently been mentoring a young girl with special needs and has gone out of her way to try and make the whole experience special and unique for her.”

For the luncheon clubs, Cath arrives bright and early and leaves around 3.30pm having helped the chef with all the dishes and the clear-up of the kitchen. Cath is forever busy, doing all she can for her local community.

In her spare time, she goes to Quarry Dene and befriends an old gentleman who is extremely lonely and very isolated. She regularly shops for him and cleans his house to make things more comfortable.

Jeannette Wheeler

Jeannette not only runs a successful riding school, she also takes the time and effort to run a Pony Club Centre and Riding for the Disabled Group. The RDA group was started by her and her mother some 20 years ago and now enables 50 people of mixed ages and abilities to have a go at horseriding every week. She puts tremendous effort into finding and training suitable horses and into planning interesting and appropriate lessons. She does the RDA work as a volunteer and finds volunteers to help her from her riding school clients.

The nomination reads: “Jeannette always ‘goes the extra mile’. She never says she can’t be bothered. However difficult it might be she keeps trying. She encourages and cajoles nervous children – even if it takes hours just to get them to touch the pony – her reward being their happiness when they do.

“She is a wonderful teacher. She always explains why things must be done rather than just issuing orders. She goes out of her way to make sure both the RDA riders and the pony club children get the absolute most from their riding experience.

“Despite having recently undergone major surgery and being in the midst of a course of chemo-therapy, Jeannette has taken the time and trouble this summer to organise extra afternoons for the Riding for the Disabled Group so that children and adults could enjoy a whole afternoon at the stables learning how to look after the horses as well as riding them. She was aware that there is a lack of opportunities for disabled children to enjoy activities in the school holidays and was determined to provide something for them in spite of her own problems and the fact that no additional funding was available.”

Keith Duerden

Keith volunteers on the Home from Hospital service, helping ease the process of settling back into a normal routine following a period in hospital. Keith has been matched with several discharged patients to help them regain their confidence and independence and has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support vulnerable clients. Keith is also a carer for a family member and combines his caring role with his volunteer work for the service. He has been a consistent member of the team, reliable and dependable.

The nomination reads: “Despite having suffered personal tragedy Keith is always positive in his approach with clients. He shows a great understanding in enabling people to have a ‘voice’, even when they may have serious illness. He can see the importance of helping them to remain as independent as possible.

“He is very personable and can make people feel at ease very quickly with his warm, friendly approach. He has an ability to look at the whole person and learns about what is important to them rather than imposing his own values.

“He does far more than a volunteer would normally be expected to do.

“Keith has recently supported a client who has had to have a tracheotomy as part of his treatment. This had a huge impact on his ability to communicate and affected his confidence. Keith was able to help him attend hospital appointments and he encouraged him to continue with the interests he had, such as playing snooker, by going with him. He has been an advocate and ensured that wishes were made known to staff, and his tenacity meant that they were carried out where possible.

“He gets involved with the organisation and is a great ambassador.”