Volunteer Celebration event

Celebrating Our Amazing Volunteers

Age UK Wakefield District recently hosted a wonderful evening of entertainment and celebration for our volunteers and their guests. Held in the stunning surroundings of Wakefield Cathedral, the event welcomed over 200 people to recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution our volunteers make.

The evening was opened by Tracey Shaw, Volunteering Service Manager, who spoke about the positive impact our volunteers have on the lives of older people across the district and the invaluable support they provide to our services and the wider community.

Guests enjoyed a delicious buffet, freshly prepared by our very own charity café, The Tea Tree Café, which received fantastic feedback from those attending.

Entertainment was provided by Rhythm from the Rafters, whose performance filled the Cathedral with music and encouraged many guests to get up, dance and enjoy the unique acoustics of this beautiful venue.

A special highlight of the evening was the recognition of six nominated volunteers, each awarded a gift certificate from Room 2 Reward. The vouchers offer an overnight stay at one of more than 950 participating hotels across the UK.

Choosing just six winners was no easy task, as every one of our volunteers deserves recognition and appreciation. However, these individuals were nominated for their exceptional commitment, going above and beyond in their support of our service users and acting as fantastic ambassadors for Age UK Wakefield District.

It was a truly memorable evening and a wonderful opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to our volunteers. We are incredibly grateful for everything they do and the difference they make to the lives of older people in our community.

A few words from Tracey our Volunteering Service Manager

“Our Volunteer Celebration Evening was a truly special occasion and a wonderful opportunity to bring together the people who make such a difference to Age UK Wakefield District and the lives of older people across our community.

The evening was all about celebrating our volunteers, recognising their incredible contribution and, most importantly, saying a heartfelt thank you. Our volunteers give so generously of their time, kindness and compassion, asking for nothing in return, yet making such a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

It was wonderful to see so many of our volunteers together, enjoying the evening, sharing stories, making connections and celebrating everything they do. We wanted everyone to feel valued and appreciated, and I hope they left knowing just how important they are to us.

We are incredibly proud of our volunteering family, and the evening was a fitting celebration of the kindness, commitment and community spirit that sits at the heart of everything we do.”

A little about our winners ....

Eileen - MCST Support Group Volunteer
Volunteering with our MCST Dementia Support Groups - Eileen is fun, caring, compassionate, knowledgeable and completely committed to the wellbeing of the people we support. She has shown that volunteering with people living with dementia does not have to be something to fear. With the right person, it can be an opportunity to create laughter, friendship, confidence and meaningful moments. 

Pat  - T4T/Tea Tree Cafe/Befriending Volunteer 
Pat has been with the Time for Tea team since shortly after our return from the Covid lockdown. Since then, she has become an indispensable member of our team, regularly supporting our two busiest events at The Ridings. Her reliability and commitment are second to none; she is always one of the first to arrive, ensuring everything is organised and ready before participants and volunteers begin arriving.  Her commitment to volunteering extends well beyond her regular duties. 

Mary - Retail Volunteer
Mary joined our retail team in October 2019. However, the reasons for nominating her are certainly not based simply on her length of service. It is the extraordinary consistency, commitment, generosity and enthusiasm she has demonstrated throughout those seven years – and continues to demonstrate – that make her such a deserving nominee. She approaches every task with the same care and attention to detail, and we have complete trust in her ability to get the job done.

John - Befriending Volunteer 
John is someone who consistently demonstrates compassion, professionalism, reliability and a genuine desire to make a difference. He is always willing to help, approaches new challenges with a positive attitude, and is a wonderful source of support to both our staff and fellow volunteers. But what really makes John so special is the way he looks beyond what is expected of him. After nearly four years, his contribution continues to make a real difference to the lives of the people he supports, the volunteers he encourages and the staff who are lucky enough to work alongside him.

Pat - Befriending Volunteer
The contribution made by Pat has been significant. However, it is not simply the number of hours or people supported that makes her stand out. It is the quality of the support, the consistency of the commitment and the genuine care shown to every person she befriends.  Whether sitting alongside someone following a frightening fall, recognising when someone may need a welfare check, finding creative ways to communicate with someone with an impairment, sharing a game of Scrabble or simply being there for a regular cup of tea and conversation, she demonstrates what excellent Befriending looks like.  

Christine & Ian - Various volunteer roles 
Our last award was a little different, because this one celebrates not one volunteer, but two!  This wonderful couple joined our volunteering family in 2019 and 2020, and since then, they have supported Age UK Wakefield District in more ways than we could possibly list.  Their contribution isn't just about the roles they undertake. They are also a wonderful part of our wider volunteer community. They regularly attend our Volunteer Drop-In events, where they happily chat with other volunteers, share their experiences and offer encouragement and support. 

Together, they bring different skills and strengths, but share the same qualities: kindness, reliability, flexibility and a genuine desire to make a difference.