Helpforce announces shortlist of volunteer champions in health and care across the UK for 2023
31st July 2023
Helpforce, which partners with health and care organisations across the UK to accelerate the growth and impact of volunteering, have announced their annual shortlist of the most exceptional volunteers in health and care across the UK. The Helpforce Champions Awards are a chance to shine a light on those who give their time to help staff in the health and care sector, and support patients and their families and carers.
As the NHS faces another winter of pressures with worker shortages and longer waiting lists, profiling the role of volunteers remains crucial. Volunteers have always played a significant role in health care provision. From supporting patients and staff in hospital to befriending people in the community, volunteers have added value to patients and staff alike.
The full list of categories and the shortlist are below:
Celebrating Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in Volunteering (ED&I Award)
- Liverpool Women's NHSFT - All in it together at LWH
- Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity and Volunteer Team - Enhanced Support Pathway
- The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust - Volunteer Services Team
Impact Project of the Year
- North West Ambulance Service - Community Resuscitation Team, Low Acuity Project
- King's College London - Health Champions, The Health Champions project
- West Herts NHS Teaching Hospitals - Teen & Young People Volunteer Programme
Volunteer of the Year
- Pete Bond - North West Ambulance Service
- Nicole Magnier - North West London ICS
- Kemal Osman - the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Outstanding Staff Champion of the Year
- Amanda Winwood - The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
- Nicola Jhumat - Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Bernadette George - Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Volunteer Lead of the Year
- Catherine Jowitt - Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Ania Adams - Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Rashpal Saini - West London NHS Trust
Volunteering Collaboration of the Year (Partnership)
- Cardiff and Vale University Health Board - Mental Health NHS Placement Scheme
- South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust - Warwickshire 4x4 Volunteers
- George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust - Back to Health Pathway team
Best Volunteer to Career programme
Congratulations to all the shortlisted nominees!
Mark Lever, Chief Executive of Helpforce, said:
“Congratulations to those who have been shortlisted for this year’s Helpforce Champions Awards. The standard of the submissions has been extremely high with evidence showing the great impact that volunteering has on our health and care system. We hope that the finalists feel very proud to get to this stage. It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the difference that they make to patients, carers, and staff. We want to thank everyone for taking the time to recognise the volunteers and send our congratulations to those who have been shortlisted and we’d like to wish them the best of luck.
The awards will be judged by an expert panel of experienced judges including a winner of Volunteer of the Year Sophie Ross!
The full judging panel can be found on our main Helpforce Champions awards page here.
The winners of 2023 will be invited to a special awards ceremony at the Royal Airforce Club in London, on the 13th October!
