Volunteer receives praise for her 'Incredible Contribution’
Voluntary tea bar lady Babs Blaine and her husband Fred have received a hat trick of good news, all within a week, after scooping a volunteer award, a grant for almost £1,000 as well as a surprise 90th birthday party.
The couple - who have a combined age of 173 – are heavily involved with raising cash for the League of Friends. Each week Babs works between six and 10 hours at Victoria Central Health Centre’s (VCHC) tea bar in Wallasey. This was formally recognised by NHS Wirral at its annual awards ceremony in Port Sunlight Village.
Each week a voluntary team sells tea, coffee and refreshments to patients, working tirelessly all day, including weekends. Babs often fills for other volunteers if they can’t make their session.
Bab’s husband Fred was given a surprise 90th birthday celebration at VCHC where almost 50 people turned up. Then the couple discovered they had scooped almost £1,000 for the League of Friends to spend on kitchen equipment for the tea bar.
Frances Street, NHS Wirral’s Chairman, said: “I would like to congratulate Babs and all our NHS volunteers who have kindly given more than 27,000 hours of their time during the last year. It’s kind people like Babs who really make a difference. I was also pleased to hear the volunteers were awarded £954 through NHS Wirral’s and Wirral Council’s small grants initiative programme – this is to be spent on upgrading a variety of kitchen equipment to be used at Victoria Central Health Centre for patients.”
Babs Blaine, 83, who is the Secretary for the League of Friends, said: “The success of the tea bar falls on the shoulders of the team of volunteers - they work so hard -they should be getting the credit not me!
“The support from the League of Friends has been excellent. They have all worked very willingly - giving up their time - they give a lot of hours. I was quite surprised to have won this award but highly delighted that the hard work has been recognised.”
If you would like to become a volunteer or get involved in your local NHS please contact 0151 647 4251.