NINETY-NINE volunteers who have given their time to The Cyrenians during the last 12 months were celebrated and thanked at the 5th Annual Volunteers Celebration held recently in the gardens of Elliott House.
Also acknowledged was the help and support received from 140 companies including Greggs, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Durham University, Barclays Corporate, Watson Burton, Northern Rock, Sage, DWP and Northumbrian Water. Staff from John Lewis were specially thanked following their support in setting up the Thrift Boutique, The Cyrenians’ second charity shop, which is based in Eldon Square, Newcastle.
Fab Flournoy, player-coach at The Eagles basketball team, presented the individual awards.
Certificates were awarded and special recognition was given to five volunteers in particular:
Tony Barker: The individual who has made the biggest overall difference through volunteering
Pat Heslop: Made a difference in the life of another person by volunteering at the Cyrenians
Daniel Lumley: Made a difference to The Cyrenians through their volunteering activities
Jason Rowland: Made a difference in their own lives by volunteering at the Cyrenians
Fareshare Volunteers: Volunteer Team of the Year 2011
Deputy chair of The Cyrenians, Mike Worthington, said: “This, our fifth Annual Volunteer Awards celebration, is a very special celebration - we really appreciate your help and support, your enthusiasm, fresh ideas and new ways of working. Volunteers add huge value to our work at The Cyrenians.”
Stephen Bell, Chief Executive of The Cyrenians, added: “Volunteers can be private individuals, previous users of The Cyrenians services or come from companies.
“Our Volunteer Programme supports people into training and employment and helps corporate volunteers broaden their skills and outlook, hopefully, benefiting themselves and their organisations in the process.
“Volunteering is an important and integrated part of The Cyrenians’ work - we are proud to be celebrating the commitment and contribution of everyone here today.”
The Cyrenians is one of the country’s leading and most progressive homeless charities. Originally Tyneside Cyrenians, the Charity formed in 1970 to provide services for people ‘sleeping rough’ in the city of Newcastle.
The Cyrenians is now one of the country’s leading social inclusion charities, dedicated and committed to delivering a diverse and expanding range of services including residential, resettlement, rehabilitation, day centre provision and outreach, to an often neglected and hidden part of the community.
Their innovative approach to reaching vulnerable and disadvantaged groups places people at the centre of their services and has led to groundbreaking projects, which make real difference to the lives of many people every day.