Now is the time to celebrate volunteers in health and social care

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that the Helpforce Champions Awards are now back this year to celebrate all volunteers across the UK in health and social care.

The Helpforce Champions Awards are the perfect opportunity to celebrate the invaluable contributions made by volunteers across the UK during the past turbulent year, fundamentally defined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Together we can shine a light on those who give their time and talents to help staff, and support patients and families and carers during the vulnerable time.

For this year, when you nominate a volunteer or a team, regardless of the outcomes, their stories will still be shared on Helpforce’s Wall of Fame as a way to thank them and to inspire more people to volunteer and support their communities.

Due to the uncertainty of how the pandemic will unfold, we will not hold a physical award ceremony this year. Instead, we will be announcing winners on our social media channels (Twitter, Linkedln, and Instagram) on 29th October 2021. We believe this is the safest way to celebrate all the volunteers and we hope you will join us on the day to congratulate them.

Nominating a volunteer for a Helpforce Champion Award will give you a chance to thank them, celebrate their work, and:

Show them that they are valued and recognised
Share the wonderful work they do with your staff and wider communities
Highlight their stories to inspire and encourage others into volunteering
Show the positive impact on staff, patients and the volunteers themselves

Anyone can nominate: patients who have had a positive experience, staff who want to reward a volunteer helping on their ward, a fellow volunteer, or a volunteer manager working with a particularly committed volunteer.

“These awards are a perfect way to thank the wonderful people who give their time to help our NHS. We see first-hand the remarkable difference so many are making every day, and it is a privilege to share these stories and successes, and give the volunteers the recognition they deserve."

Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallett, Chair and Founder Helpforce

“I really hope that for this year, more people are nominated for the Helpforce Champions Awards. The NHS is full of remarkable people; I know there are many volunteers and teams that deserve to be recognised for their tremendous contribution to patients 'health and wellbeing and I know being nominated for these awards would mean the world to them, because it does to me."

Gary Thomas, Volunteer of the Year 2019 winner, Royal Liverpool Hospital

Helpforce Champions Award categories

We are looking for examples of volunteers who tried something new, done something differently, and brought about a positive change.

Outstanding Volunteering Team of the Year

This award recognises excellent teamwork and combined contribution by three or more volunteers working together. Whether the group worked on an event or project, they have achieved significant success as a team.

Young Volunteer of the Year

This award celebrates the contribution young people can make to staff and patients, and the value they bring.

Volunteer of the Year

This award celebrates an individual who has gone above and beyond expectations in their volunteering role during the year, and made a noticeable impact on the experience of staff, patients and their local community.

Outstanding Staff Champion for Volunteers

This award goes to a supportive member of health and care staff (outside of volunteer management) who has championed and embraced volunteers, and gone the extra mile to recognise the positive impact volunteers can make.

Volunteer Leader of the Year

This award recognises the commitment and dedication of an outstanding health and care staff member who leads volunteers, or has a core responsibility for managing or coordinating volunteering in the health and care sector. We want to see examples of leaders who have improved the ways volunteers support staff, patients, and the volunteers themselves using innovation and bringing about transformation.

Partnership and Systems working in volunteering

This award recognises the importance and value of bringing health and care volunteers together with other organisations in hospitals and the wider community.

Innovation in Volunteering

This award recognises the contributions and achievements of an innovative idea or scheme involving volunteers that has made a significant contribution to staff, patients and the wider community.

Celebrating Inclusion and Diversity in Volunteering

This award celebrates successful approaches to inclusion and diversity within volunteering to help patients and the wider community.

People’s Choice Award

This is a new award category which is open to the public to vote for their overall volunteer highlight from the last year. Highlight can mean anything from volunteer initiative, gesture, campaign to a specific team or individual.

How to enter

Deadline for applications: 5.30pm on the 7th September 2021

1. Complete our online entry form - In no more than 1,000 words per nomination, describe why you are nominating your volunteer, team, or staff member, and how they fulfill the award criteria. You may nominate the same volunteer for more than one award.

2. You can attach photos and testimonials to support your nomination.

3. We will contact you by email to let you know if your nomination has been shortlisted. Unfortunately we will not be able to provide feedback to why individual nominations have not been shortlisted.

4. Please note, if shortlisted, we may ask you for a short two minute video of your nominee to be shared on our website and social media.

For further details and to read our FAQ's please visit the Helpforce Champions Awards link

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