Marsh Charitable Trust – Marsh Award for Volunteer Team of the Year

Marsh Award for Volunteer Team of the Year

This Award is run in partnership with Barnado’s.

This Award recognises the hard work and dedication of those who give up their time to volunteer for Barnardo’s around the country. The winners of the Marsh Award for Volunteer Team of the Year have demonstrated levels of commitment that go above and beyond what is expected of them.

Nominations are made via Barnardo’s and judged by a panel consisting of Barnardo’s and MCT representatives.

Pictured: 2014 Frome Shop Volunteers

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CAMHS Walking With You Volunteers 2020

‘Walking With You’ (WWY) is a parent led support group for anyone supporting children and young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. The group was set up in 2018, after feedback from parents that it would be helpful to have “the chance to connect with like-minded people who have walked in your shoes”. The volunteers really understand the pressure the families they support are under and this is evident it the support and empathy they demonstrate to help the attendees feel less alone.

The volunteers helped with the set up of the group from the very beginning, shaping the remit, deciding on the name, designing and producing the logo and posters and helping with promotion of the group. They meet regularly to plan each session, which cover topics chosen by the group, and following the sessions, a newsletter is put together a summary of the session and any useful links and resources for the parents to use going forward. The volunteers have demonstrated drive, determination, commitment and enthusiasm to ensure that the sessions are of high quality and provide parents with the support and resources they need.

During the pandemic, the volunteers have gone above and beyond to keep the meetings running via online platforms. They have focused on issues related to lockdown, such as anxiety around isolation and returning to school, and the volunteers’ on-going enthusiasm and commitment has been invaluable at such a difficult time.

Previous Winners

RUSafe Volunteers

The RUSafe Volunteers provide invaluable additional support to young people who have received support from the Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) services. The volunteers meet the young people they support on a one to one basis, either at school or in the local community, and help them access positive activities. The volunteers reinforce the work that the CSE project workers have completed and help the young people retain a connection to the service should they need it, while allowing staff to be available to help new service users.