Oakhaven Volunteers receive achievement awards during National Volunteers Week

Seven volunteers have been recognised for outstanding achievement in the 2024 Oakhaven Hospice Volunteer Achievement Awards.

National Volunteers Week, from 1st to 7th June 2024, provided the perfect opportunity for the trustees and staff of Oakhaven Hospice to thank over 430 volunteers who willingly give their time and expertise to support the hospice.

At a special afternoon tea, held in a marquee in the beautiful gardens of the Hospice, Oakhaven’s Chair of Trustees, Melville Kendal, thanked all the Oakhaven volunteers for their support - helping at the hospice, helping in patients’ homes across the New Forest, Totton and Waterside community and helping the charity’s shops.

He said, “We really appreciate everything that our Volunteers do. THANK YOU for helping Oakhaven to make every moment matter.”

Leading up to the event, staff and volunteers were able to make nominations for the annual Volunteer Achievement Awards. The Awards are based on the Trust’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Empathy. Plus an award for Individual Achievement.

Andrew Ryde, Chief Executive, said, “In total 42 volunteers were nominated by staff and other volunteers, with a number being nominated by more than one person. This shows how important and well-regarded our volunteers are. They all do an amazing job to support Oakhaven and it was a very difficult task to determine the winners of each category, as so many had done something that was over and above their usual role.”

Congratulations to the 2024 winners of the Oakhaven Hospice Volunteer Achievement Awards:

• The Award for Compassion was presented to Sarah Groake, an Oakhaven Neighbour.
• The Award for Accountability was presented to Mike Hutchinson, a PAT test volunteer at the Oakhaven Fairview shop
• The Award for Respect was presented to Alison and John Homer, who have volunteered for the fundraising team since 2012.
• The Award for Empathy was presented to Isobella King-Holford (known as Nugs), an Oakhaven Neighbour.

Awards for Individual Achievement were awarded to two volunteers:

• Rosemary Popple, a volunteer at Oakhaven’s Totton shop.
• Terry Blackmore, who volunteers on Inpatient Unit Reception, at the Lymington Donation Station and with the fundraising department.

Additional recognition from Room To Reward

In addition, all seven winners have been recognised with a Room To Reward Award for being hidden heroes for Oakhaven.

Room to Reward is a unique volunteer-recognition charity created to say ‘thank you’ to their hidden heroes – inspirational volunteers who give up their time to make a difference to those who need it most. Room to Reward partners with hotels across the UK to offer complimentary one or two-night stays to nominated volunteers.

The Oakhaven family is always looking for more volunteers to help in a variety of roles, for more information about volunteering for Oakhaven Hospice, find out more here, or please call 01590 670346 or email volunteering@oakhavenhospice.co.uk.