Abbeywood School students, Diya Barot and George Beaven, win a South Gloucestershire Council Chair’s Award for youth volunteering. They also achieved £100 from the Lord Lieutenant’s Special Award. Diya and George became anti-hate crime ambassadors two years ago when Southern Brooks tested a project at Abbeywood Community School. Since then, Diya and George used their training to mentor the victims and perpetrators of hate crime. Nearly thirty volunteers and their families joined the Chair’s annual Community Awards at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College on Thursday 16 March 2017. We were thrilled Diya and George achieved their awards from the many nominations. The award recognised the positive change they made at Abbeywood School after successfully completing our anti-hate crime ambassadors training.
After the success at Abbeywood school Southern Brooks secured further funding from the Home Office to support more schools across Kingswood, Filton and Patchway.
Julie Close, Director at Southern Brooks, says “Our hate crime ambassadors programme will teach young people to recognise and respond appropriately to a hate crime incident. It gives them the skills they need for life, which they can share with their peers, family, friends and future work colleagues.”
David Bell joined Southern Brooks as a Trustee in 2008, and is now their Vice Chairman. David achieved the individual award for volunteering. He says ” It’s very humbling to achieve a South Gloucestershire Council Chair’s Award 2017, especially when I heard about the marvellous work that the other winners have done to achieve their awards. The award is a tribute to great work done in the community by Southern Brooks Community Partnerships, by its staff and volunteers.”
At Southern Brooks people are at the heart of everything we do, and our volunteers make a positive difference in the lives of local people. As our volunteer you’ll receive our training and support. Southern Brooks has a variety of volunteering opportunities from being a Health Champion, a Wellbeing Buddy, volunteering in a café to fundraising in their ‘Friends of Southern Brooks’ groups.
Sue joined our Brooks Café in 2012, which couldn’t run without volunteers. Sue had low self-esteem, avoided going out and meeting people. Sue’s confidence, self-esteem and thirst for living life grew since volunteering at Brooks Café, which includes customers service and preparing food. Sue’s now looking for paid work since gaining confidence and achieving skills at Brooks café.
We’re always looking for more volunteers to support our community projects and other local organisations. Simply drop into the Volunteers Centre at Patchway Library, BS34 5PE on Tuesdays from 10am until 12noon. For our other drop-in sessions across South Gloucestershire please contact:
Volunteer Centre – Patchway, Filton and the Stokes
Email: info@volunteercentre-pfs.org.uk
Telephone: 01454 868 986
Website: www.volunteercentre-pfs.org.uk