A volunteer who has worked with the families’ charity Home-Start IOW has received a national award in recognition of her dedication over 25 years. Margaret Rylands has volunteered with Home-Start on the Island supporting families in their homes since 1999, has been a trustee for almost the same amount of time, as well as serving a term as Chair of the Board of Trustees. Home-Start UK’s Volunteer Awards were held on Thursday 18th January to recognise and celebrate the amazing contributions of volunteers across the network. There are more than 10,000 Home-Start volunteers and 1,000 Trustees who volunteer in communities all over the UK. A group of around 30 Island volunteers, families and trustees gathered at Briddlesford Farm to watch the national ceremony broadcast online to Home-Start branches all around the country – and to see Margaret win the biggest award of them all! Margaret will receive a cash prize from the Marsh Charitable Trust, who sponsored the event, as well as a trophy and certificate. Speaking after the award ceremony Margaret said:
‘I was just amazed that I made the shortlist – and I don’t know what the word is now! “I’ve really enjoyed all the years that I’ve been at Home-Start. I’ve often felt that I get at least as much out of it as the families, if not more. “It’s lovely watching children grow up with the families I’ve stayed in touch with, I hope that somewhere along the line that I’ve made a difference.”
Alison Griffiths, Home-Start IOW Scheme Manager, has said:
“Margaret is unassuming, very reliable, she’s incredibly thoughtful, she’s so kind – but she does it all in a very quiet way. “She just cares really really deeply for Home-Start and she believes in everything that we do.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyL7gjV0ibM&feature=youtu.be Becky Dollery, a mum from 1 of the first families Margaret helped, adds:
“It’s quite emotional… It was really tough when the kids came home from hospital, being so premature, a lot of the time I was on my own with my husband working away during the week – so I really only had Margaret. “Without her help I couldn’t have done those little things other people take for granted.”
