Two caring charities win prestigious awardmajor award

Two charities who excel at taking care of their volunteers are the joint winners of a prestigious community award.
Jacky and Margaret pictured with Haywards Heath Mayor, Sandy Ellis, and with Jane Plumb MBE, who founded the Group B Strep Support charity.Jacky and Margaret pictured with Haywards Heath Mayor, Sandy Ellis, and with Jane Plumb MBE, who founded the Group B Strep Support charity.
Jacky and Margaret pictured with Haywards Heath Mayor, Sandy Ellis, and with Jane Plumb MBE, who founded the Group B Strep Support charity.

The ‘Friendliness Award for Best Voluntary Organisation’ was introduced five years ago and recognises good practice in recruiting, retaining and rewarding volunteers.

The accolade is awarded annually by Mid Sussex (South) CVS charity and Volunteer Centre, and this year there were two joint winners: Group B Strep Support and Hope in the Valley RDA Group.

Charities and local groups are nominated by volunteers.

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Jacky Elliott, a long-standing volunteer with Hope in the Valley nominated the charity, which provides riding lessons for physically disabled children.

She said: “All the volunteers are lovely, especially those holding a position who organise us. We always feel welcome and useful, even when we can only offer a limited amount of time.”

Margaret Gomme nominated Group B Strep Support, a charity set up by Jane Plumb to raise awareness of the Group B Streptococcus bacteria which can be life-threatening in new-born babies. The charity, based in Haywards Heath, wants the NHS to carry out routine testing on pregnant mothers so that antibiotics can be given to prevent babies catching the bacteria during birth.

Margaret, a volunteer with the charity, said: “I really look forward to spending my Mondays in the office doing all sorts of interesting jobs. All the ladies I work with are very friendly and welcoming.”

For more information about volunteering please contact MSSCVS and Volunteer Centre at [email protected] or [email protected]