Warrington Guardian Inspiration Awards

WARRINGTON GUARDIAN INSPIRATION AWARDS 2024

TEAM of the YEAR

I am delighted to tell everyone that the Ukrainian Family Hub Volunteer Team has won the Team of the Year at the 2024 Warrington Guardian Inspiration Awards.

Below is the nomination that the committee submitted. We think it expresses perfectly everything our incredible team of volunteers do. All the qualities that each and every volunteer brings to the hub which only works because of your work and commitment. 

Thank you for everything that you do!

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/24287646.teamwork-secures-inspiration-award-ukrainian-family-hub/

Warrington Guardian Inspiration Awards Nomination

The hub’s volunteer team carries out all of the work of the hub. Led by the committee of 5, it consists of volunteer coordinator section leaders who manage upwards of 60 volunteers consistently delivering the hub’s services to support our Ukrainian guests and their sponsors throughout the year on Wednesdays and Sundays. There are over 350 guests registered with the hub with between 80 – 200 regularly attending weekly sessions and events.  The volunteer team deliver:

1. English lessons to children and adults at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels

2. Revision sessions for Y11 students taking GCSEs

3. Weekly social sessions on Sundays with

•  adult, teenage and children’s activities including art, craft, and music sessions

• celebrating children’s and teenager birthdays

• refreshments including working with local food banks

• provide practical support for job interviews and those pursuing self-employment

• support for those moving into their own homes

• celebrating both British and Ukrainian holidays and festivals

• transport to and from the hub

4. Trips and events to help create good memories particularly important for the children and adults who have experienced difficult situations in Ukraine before coming to the UK

The aims of our hub would not be realised if our volunteers did not work as a team together. This is particularly impressive when it is realised that everyone in the team is giving up their free time to ensure that the hub is a success.

Our volunteers come from all areas and walks of life – some are sponsors, others local people who want to support the work of the hub and some are Ukrainian guests who want to get involved in the running of the hub, They are all ages from 11 to 70+.  

Each area is managed by volunteer coordinators who manage the rota for their area, organise the activities and resources needed each week and ensure that the volunteers get the training and information they need. The hub coordinators work together outside of sessions to manage the activity programme for the hub and liaise with WBC and external agencies such as Culture Warrington and other groups to organise activities for our families.  

The volunteers are brilliant – they turn up when they have committed to doing so. They get to know our families, provide a shoulder to cry on or a comforting hug when needed. They celebrate successes and occasions with our families such as getting a new job, gaining a new qualification or simply singing Happy Birthday!

Our Ukrainian volunteers are those who have arrived since 2022 and want to help with the running of the hub and are brilliant at helping bridge the cultural divide that can sometimes arise and in organising celebrations and ceremonies such as the recent procession to mark the second anniversary and the exhibition that is currently in the Warrington Museum.

Without this team of volunteers led by the coordinators the hub would not have been able to make its successes and achievements. From a standing start in April 2022, the hub has been able to provide:

• hundreds of coats, school shoes, general clothing, toiletries to those in need

• over 30 bikes, sim cards, laptops and tablets for children at school

• support with visa applications and job applications

• celebrated Ukrainian Day, Christmas, Halloween, Eurovision, hundreds of birthdays

• provide thousands of sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, fruit and hot dogs

• organised trips and events to

• created one amazing community family with over 350 registered guests

• Shared hugs, kisses, tears of sadness and laughter, hope, and many, many, many cups of tea and coffee

I believe that our volunteer team embodies the values that these Awards celebrate. I am so proud of our volunteer team. I am proud of how they deliver week in/ week out, how they work hard together, how they have fun together working, of the great relationships and friendships that have been made and fostered through this team working. The success of the Ukrainian Family Hub Warrington is their success.