The Independent’s Happy List 2017

We’re delighted to announce that two members of the Volunteering Matters team have been have made it into the Independent Happy List!

The Happy List was set up in 2008 by The Independent as an antidote to celebrity rich lists. Rather than celebrate privilege and wealth, The Happy List seeks to shine a light on people whose extraordinary efforts are for no personal gain, and who have often gone unrecognised outside their own communities.

Find out more about the two people from Volunteering Matters shortlisted below.

SIANNE MORGAN

Sianne Morgan is the Youth Development Manager in Wales for Volunteering Matters and for the past 17 years has been supporting volunteers and delivering projects across the country. Based in Pontypool, Sianne oversees all youth projects while also delivering three projects herself; Beyond Transitions, Mind Matters and Activ8.

She has supported many young people who were disengaged and helped them transition; attending school or college, beginning employment, starting training or volunteering further.

Her work with young people doesn’t stop when she goes home though. As a full-time foster carer, Sianne provides respite to children and young people in the foster care system. Despite any personal challenges they might have faced, Sianne has only ever offered love, care, comfort and a positive role model to look up to.

Sianne’s door is always open to volunteers past and present, and having worked with over 3000 young people, it is clear the difference she has made to people’s lives across the country. Her warmth and understanding of young people who might be in a difficult situation, who want help and support or who just want to have fun is evident and her impact is endless. Sianne has made a massive impact on the community locally in Torfaen, in the Gwent area and for Volunteering Matters as an organisation. We are sure she will continue all the fantastic things she does and want to thank her for making such a positive difference.

PADDIE GING

Paddie Ging is a volunteer handyperson, volunteer befriender, volunteer organiser and all-round flag-bearer for Volunteering Matters. Based in Alloa, he began volunteering with Volunteering Matters’ Handyperson project in 2016 and in just a year has made a huge difference in his community. He began volunteering as a handyperson, visiting older, more vulnerable people in the community and helping them with odd jobs around the house that they may not be able to do themselves or find tradespeople willing to do.

In addition to this,  Paddie also took on the responsibility of organising other volunteers – arranging their visits and making sure even more people could benefit from the service by helping to train new volunteers.

After volunteering with the Handyperson project, he then started volunteering with the Volunteering Matters Help at Hand befriending project, visiting older, isolated people in the local community. Paddie wanted to get involved in this after suffering from anxiety and depression and gaining a real understanding of the damage loneliness can do to a person. Now, Paddie is hoping to get back into employment and believes that his time spent volunteering will help him do just that.

Paddie has been a great asset to the team helping with volunteer management but also supporting with publicity and administrative tasks. He’s a fantastic asset to his whole community as well as Volunteering Matters, making a tangible difference in the lives of older people across Alloa and so deserves to be recognised as a real superhero.

 

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