More dramatic and inspirational than any Hollywood drama, the stories of 45 amazing people will be revealed at the Volunteer Oscars later this month.
From a campaigner for the rights of dwarfs (people with restricted growth), to a man who has cut hair for terminally ill people for half a century, the stories are wide-ranging and touching.
As the credits roll on Year of the Volunteer, national volunteering charity CSV (Community Service Volunteers) are holding a gala event at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on Sunday January 22nd to celebrate the work of ‘ordinary people’ who do extraordinary things.
The work of volunteers has been recognised in five categories, including:
Innovation: For example, a rubbish depot controller who has recycled 2005 old cycles to give to the needy
Impact: A 10-year-old who produced a CD of songs to celebrate her Downs Syndrome little sister, who has subsequently died
Inspiration: A refugee who escaped persecution and overcame depression to help others
Commitment: A woman whose 64 years of volunteering has included accompanying a vulnerable man to work every week for 8 years.
Partnership: A 39-year-old grandmother who began by setting up a playgroup on her housing estate, then created a unique charity to help people from BME groups with disabilities.
The Chancellor Gordon Brown, music mogul Pete Waterman, TV presenter June Sarpong, Coronation Street Actress Sally Lindsay and news journalist Jon Snow are amongst the celebrities helping to honour the volunteers. The ceremony will also feature a special performance by members of the Rambert Dance Company. Awards will be presented to five National Champions from the shortlist of 45 volunteers.
The inspirational and truly incredible stories of some of the volunteers, who will be there on the day, include:
Campaigner for dwarfism rights: April Barrett from Birmingham
Mum-of-one April, who is one of 25,000 people with restricted growth in the UK, is a volunteer passionate about changing attitudes towards people with dwarfism through the promotion of their sporting achievements.
She is the volunteer Chair of the West Midlands Regional Federation and works in partnership with sporting organisations to integrate dwarfs into sport. April is dedicated to making other sporting bodies take the UK Dwarf Athletic Association, which has 200 members across the country, seriously so that sporting dwarfs can compete and break records equally and fairly. She took over the chairmanship of the Association in 1998 on a voluntary basis and is determined to raise awareness of dwarfism in sport.
Long-term supporter of victims of crime: Jim Bond from Gorleston, Great Yarmouth
Jim has been a volunteer with Victim Support for 23 years, providing assistance to people who have had problems ranging from bicycle theft to male rape.
Jim has volunteered with Victim Support since 1982, a role that sees him often called out at night to help victims dealing with extremely traumatic incidents such as rape, sudden death or suicide.
Refugee combats depression to help others: Roland, 41, from Birmingham
Roland is a biochemist who had to flee Cameroon and leave behind his wife and five children because he was persecuted by the Government for studying the history of his country. For years he has had to battle with low self-esteem, depression and anxiety brought on by his persecution in his home country. He became involved with a diverse range of voluntary work, including environmental conservation for the BTCV, and working alongside fellow refugees with the Refugee Council.
Support for life-saving surgery: Jean Gundersen from Watford
Along with her husband, Jean fosters children who come to the UK for life-saving heart surgery with the charity Chain of Hope, taking them to hospital and keeping them from getting homesick.
Jean pays out of her own pocket for the children’s food and clothing. Often they don’t speak English and have to stay for up to four months but Jean has always managed to provide a loving home and to communicate despite the language barrier.
Hair care for terminally ill: Frank Cain from Liverpool
Frank has volunteered for over 55 years as a hairdresser and barber to people with terminal cancer in Liverpool.
Now himself 85, Frank gives up his time to visit the patients at the Liverpool Marie Curie Hospice where he cuts their hair and shaves them when they are too ill to do it themselves. His visits even extend to special holidays including Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Triumph over disability: Julie Jaye Charles from Walthamstow, London
Grandmother and mother Julie has overcome disability and discrimination to devote over 20 years of her life to voluntary work within her community on a housing estate in East London.
22 years ago as a young single mum, Julie was offered a flat in a high rise tower block council estate in Walthamstow and campaigned to improve community led children’s’ services on the estate. She later established the Nappy Gang Playgroup, which continues to this day and is part of the huge regeneration of the Lea Valley region. Since then, Julie, who has both Lupus (a chronic disease affecting the immune system) and bipolar, has volunteered both nationally and internationally by forming Equalities, that has supported thousands of BME people with disabilities.
For press enquires: Chris Pitt 020 7812 0036 cpitt@csv.org.uk; Paul Donohoe 020 7812 0037 / 07779 624 385 pdonohoe@csv.org.uk; or Jason Tanner, Head of Press on 020 7812 0038 / 07941 433598 jtanner@csv.org.uk
Notes for Editors
1. Year of the Volunteer 2005 was owned by volunteers, led by a partnership between Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and the Volunteering England Consortium, and supported by the Home Office.
2. The Volunteering England Consortium consisted of Volunteering England, TimeBank, do-it, The Media Trust, Bitc and Youth Action Network.
3. The CSV Year of the Volunteer Awards took place during 2005. Nomination forms were distributed across England, resulting in 2005 people being presented with medals. From these 2005, 45 exceptional people were short-listed (one from each of the five categories, across 9 geographical regions). The Gala event on January 22nd is a celebration of the Year of the Volunteer, and will feature presentations of a glass trophy to five National Champions (one in each category).