The awards are a special recognition for volunteers in Sefton who have gone above and beyond their role and shown real dedication and commitment to the organisation they support. The young volunteer of the year award is open to those aged 25 and under.

Volunteer of the Year 2023 nominees

George Jackson – Litherland Youth and Community Centre

Nominated by Payge, staff member at Litherland Youth and Community Centre

George has been a valued member of the club for almost a year now, in such a short space time George has made a massive impact on the Centre through his hard work and dedication. George Volunteers across all the services that the club offers including: the food bank, after school club, coffee morning, youth provision and our elderly group. All of the members within in the club and the community recognise all of the hard work and commitment George brings. At Christmas George also dedicated his time helping to fundraise for our centre with our Christmas sleigh. We cannot adequately express the gratitude that everyone LYCC wishes to convey to George and, we wanted to nominate George for this award to show him how special he is to us and how much we appreciate everything he does, he is our LYCC Hero! 

Sue Challinor – Cats Protection

Nominated by Yvonne, Regional Volunteer Leader at Cats Protection

Sue has volunteered for cats protection for 3 years + and has the drive and passion that shines through everytime she goes out on a rescue job. Through snow,hale, rain or shine, Sue will be out ensuring that cats and kittens get the best help and support they need. As well a being an amazing community ambassodor for CP, Sue will educate communities on the importance of our neutering campaign and will always be on hand to support our next recruited volunteers. We want Sue to get this award as she is so deserving of it as she is a true Cat Angel Queen helping to rescue and save the lives of many stray, unwanted and ferel cats/kittens.

June Russell – Halle’s Hub

Nominated by Heather, June’s daughter and founder of Halle’s Hub.

June runs a tight ship in a kind and caring way for the benefit of the community of all ages. She maintains a high standard of goods being used and donated to raise funds that are then turned into opportunities for the kids and young people in our community. As we grow and develop June has begun to listen to what her customers want and has set up workshops for people of all ages and abilities. People have said that she is the Queen of the estate and that they love to visit and chat and that she has brought the heart of the community back.

Andy King – Crisis Cafe

Nominated by Sherran, manager of the Crisis Cafe

Andy has very difficult physical health problems, he is registered disabled, and has his own mental health challenges on top of that. Despite this he has consistently volunteered every single week (despite a few times off sick) for 3 nights a week and has done so since we opened Southport in July 2021. And he still has a smile for those that need it. We could not be more grateful to Andy, he is so valued amongst the team and the service users adore him too. He has helped so many of our service users who are there to receive vital support because they are at Crisis point themselves. He says helping others helps him with his own recovery and well-being.  Last October Andy did a talk for Sefton In Mind about the correlation of having physical health and mental health problems, he got upset whilst speaking to a large crowd, but this wasn’t a sign of weakness if anything it showed such tremendous strength, tenacity, determination and courage. He was applauded by all and people personally thanked him afterwards for being so open and honest. This led to a day at Radio City where Andy is now one of several voices on a new radio advert, soon to be released, promoting Sefton in Mind. So, thank you Andy for all your continued hard work, and we mean that from the bottom of our hearts. From Sherran and the Southport Crisis Cafe Team. 

Marie Dewhurst – Community Connectors

Nominated by Louise and Joe, staff members with Community Connectors, Sefton CVS.

Marie has worked tirelessly to support the Community Connectors with new projects whenever she can. Upon the launch of the Sunflowers lunch club at Maghull Parish Hall at the end of 2021 she played an integral part in helping the group grow from strength to strength and enjoyed being the welcoming face when clients arrived in addition to helping serve lunches, teas and coffees, set-up and clear-up and taking registers etc. When we launched the new Memory Lane café in Parkhaven Maghull, she was one of the first volunteers to offer her support once a month to come along, welcome those living with Dementia and their loved ones and help with teas/coffees and anything else that was needed to help the group run smoothly. To the present day Marie continues to volunteer at both of these groups and tells us how much she enjoys it. Marie has also assisted in delivering Christmas hampers to vulnerable local residents during the festive period on behalf of Maghull Town Council. The feedback we have had about Marie is so positive with one group organiser commenting on how useful it would be if we could ‘clone her’. Her dedication as Community Champion is greatly appreciated by the Community Connectors.

Lindsay and Stuart Findlay – Community Connectors

Nominated by Louise and Joe, staff members with Community Connectors, Sefton CVS.

Lesley and Stuart started supporting the project in 2021 and are always keen to help. They have supported delivering Christmas hampers to vulnerable and isolated members of the community; helped at our Maghull Marketplace Event welcoming people and collecting information; at a‘Memory Lane’ Dementia Café in collaboration with Parkhaven Trust in Maghull where, 6 months on, Lesley and Stuart continue to offer their time each month to come along to the group and are always on hand to assist in whatever way is needed of them on the day and at our “Cosy Cafe”, part of the Warm Spaces initiative.

The feedback about Lesley and Stuart from the family members of those living with Dementia and those at the cafe has been incredible and it is clear they are a valued duo of the group.We are so proud to have Lesley and Stuart as valued members of our fantastic team of Community Champions and it is delightful to be able to look back and see how much support they have offered over the last 2 years since becoming registered with us. Read the full case study here.

Young Volunteer of the Year nominees 2023.

Sponsored by Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa

Brittney Scott – Crisis Cafe

Nominated by Sherran, manager of the Crisis Cafe

Brittney has had a lot of mental health struggles herself and she kindly did a video for us saying that The Crisis Café saved her life when she was really struggling. Since this video was shared Brittney has since gone on to volunteer at our Crosby site but still receives support for herself from our Southport Site. Brittney is an amazing volunteer, to have gone through everything she has, but still support others and put a smile on and play scrabble to help others is a fanatastic achievement. She really has shown immense personal strength and to support others whilst she’s struggled through some very hard times is just testament to her inner courage and resilience. All the service users at Crosby think the world of her and always ask about her if she isn’t there. Thank you Brittney and well done for being a great volunteer and a true ambassador for fellow mental health sufferers.

Rhegan Hough – Litherland Youth and Community Centre

Nominated by Payge, staff member at Litherland Youth and Community Centre.

Rhegan has been a young volunteer and memeber at LYCC for a number of years and is only 16 year’s old. Rhegan supports our Youth provision several times a week and, is a valued member of the club. Despite COVID and studying for her GCSE’s Rhegan has continued to support the provision showing, dedication and commitment. Rhegan’s hard work has been recognised by all the staff in the centre and the young people. Her willingness to share both her time and talent by volunteering at LYCC say’s a lot about her quality of character. Whilst we know that Rhegan’s choice to volunteer is done selflessly and without expectation of recognition, today we wish to that on behalf of the whole LYCC family, we thank you Rhegan you are a super star

Freya White – Independence Initiative

Nominated by Tracy, staff member at the Independence Initiative

Excellent visible young person. Good and positive role model to peers. She is inspirational to others and such a role model. She has always got a smile on her face offering a warm friendly welcome to any one who meets her. She is dependable and a self starter. She came to our organisation after leaving school as a volunteer as well as attending college where she is doing a sport course and refereeing girls football during weekends and evenings. She has been successful gaining part time employment. She is also raising money for our pantry by running the 97 run with a staff member.

Thank you to Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa for sponsoring the Young Volunteer of the Year Award.