Day 4 – Volunteers’ Week in Stockport: Unsung Hero and Long Service Awards

Throughout Volunteers’ Week, we are highlighting some of Stockport’s amazing volunteers whose work and dedication were recognised at the recent Stockport Rocks Volunteer Awards evening. 

Thursday 6th June:
Today we recognise the people who have been highly commended along with the winners of the Unsung Hero and the Long Service Awards.

Unsung Hero Award

Winner: Andrew Roughley, Roughley’s Bike Show

“Andrew has been raising money for over 25 years for local childrens charities
along with other charities like the blood bikes by having an annual bike show and all year round fundraising events. He is a true local hero”   Alison Thorpe

Highly Commended: Ben Autumn (pictured above), NAPAC 

“Ben is a committed and invaluable Volunteer Call Handler at NAPAC. We are a very small team running a national support line with a huge demand. We rely on our amazing team of volunteers to attend regular shifts and provide vital support to survivors of abuse who may be in crisis. The work is very emotionally demanding, and call handlers never know what they will be faced with each shift. That being said, Ben consistently attends with a smile on his face and always brightens up the office.

“All of us at NAPAC are constantly in awe of Ben and the way he devotes his time, in any way he can, to supporting those in desperate need. He truly is an unsung hero who never asks for anything in return.” Holly Aisbett – NAPAC

Highly Commended: Maurice Perkins, Stockport Armed Forces Covenant 

“Mo works tirelessly to support projects and organisations that provide opportunities for veterans and their families to come together in a safe social setting…Working with a very small team Mo helped in the delivery of Stockport’s first borough wide armed forces day celebrations in 2023. Mo does all this and more without seeking any recognition or reward and sees that helping others is a reward enough.”  Amanda Peers

Highly Commended: Samantha Merrick, Pure Insight and Keira’s Kingdom

“Sammy does great work behind the scenes. She mentors two care leavers for Pure Insight going above and beyond for her mentees, probably spending several hours a week. She also organises socials for other mentors. She helps them with life skills, money management and confidence building. She recently spent a week of her personal holiday time redecorating a house in Brinnington for a family that were struggling to cope with dementia and having two autistic older children.”  Donald Moore

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Long Service Award

Winner: Marjorie Bennett (pictured above), Girlguiding 

“In April 2024 Marjorie will have given 60 years of service as a Girlguiding leader. She has shared skills and enthusiasm with hundreds of Girlguiding members, ranging from taking her guide unit away camping all over the country to
making fantastic crafts. She’s just finished knitting 50 chicks for the Rainbow & Brownie units she still helps at. And only last week was sitting around a campfire with them singing traditional campfire songs. Her enthusiasm for Girlguiding has never waned.”  Caroline Calverley

Highly Commended: Eileen Bailey (pictured below left), Stockport Car Scheme

“Eileen Bailey has volunteered for us since 2001. She has a great attitude to her volunteering role and is happy to go anywhere and take anyone, nothing is too much trouble. She will go into the middle of Manchester City Centre to help a client get anew wig and she wil help us early in the morning or later in the day, going through rush hour traffic without hesitation. Nothing is too much trouble for her and she is a real asset to our organisation.”
Susan Peck – Stockport Car Scheme

Highly Commended: Margaret Thompson (pictured above right), St Ann’s Hospice 

“Margaret (also known as Nana) has been a volunteer at St Ann’s Hospice in Heald Green since 2006. She was inspired to volunteer at St Ann’s after her father passed away at the hospice, and experienced the kindness and care that was shown to him and all his family. Each year she has worked tirelessly on our Christmas appeal Light up a Life, helping to create our book of honour with over 1000 dedications. She spends one day a week helping in the fundraising support office, always arriving with a smile and a story about her family. Margaret is an integral part of the fundraising team, and we would be lost without her help.” Sophie Berkley