PCP celebrates dedicated volunteers with well-earned room to reward getaways

Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) volunteers have been recognised for their valuable contributions through the Room to Reward scheme. The charitable Room to Reward scheme partners with hotels and holiday parks to gift breaks in unsold rooms to nominated volunteers as a way of saying ‘thank you’ for being community champions and making a difference in their local community.

Pauline Brass, Matthew Williams and Anita Pearson were nominated by PCP staff for their outstanding commitment, compassion and dedication to supporting PCP services and the local community. Each volunteer has contributed to PCP’s mission of ‘Health, Wellbeing and Learning for All’ in the last year, as well as bringing warmth, skills and enthusiasm to everything they do.

Pauline Brass (centre) with Linda West, Options Coordinator and Bobby Hewitson, Project Development Manager

Pauline, who volunteers at Options social club at the Pioneering Care Centre (PCC) in Newton Aycliffe, said: “I have been volunteering at social club every Thursday since 2014. Social Club provides adults with learning and physical disabilities the opportunity to have fun, relax and unwind, make new friends and take part in a wide range of activities, it’s fantastic.

“I also enjoy supporting other volunteers too, helping them with paperwork and settling into their role. I’m honoured to have been awarded this, thank you PCP for nominating me.”

From left to right: Bino Evanero, Health and Wellbeing Community Engagement Officer, Vicky Williamson, Project Support Officer, Melanie Fordham, PCP Trustee, Matthew Williams, Knock Out Depression, Lea Richardson, Project Lead and Michaela Duffield, Public Health Practitioner, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Matthew, creator of Knock Out Depression, also volunteers for the Stockton Community Wellbeing Champions (SCWC) project as a Wellbeing Champion. Matthew said: “Being a Champion and being able to spread the message about what services people can access in Stockton‑on‑Tees to support their wellbeing is important to me. I‘m incredibly proud to be a part of this community.

“As a volunteer, it’s never about getting something in return, but being recognised with this award gives me even more motivation to continue doing what I’m doing for SCWC and PCP.”

Sandra Roberts, Governance and Development Manager with Anita Pearson

Anita, volunteers 12 to 15 hours a week over three days in the PCC Community Café. She said: “Thank you to PCP for nominating me. I’ve had nervous moments at the start of my volunteering journey, but I’ve pushed through with the support from staff, and I enjoy it so much, PCP is a great place to volunteer. I just try to be friendly to everyone and make their day that little bit better.”

Vicky Browning, Operations Manager said: “In the past year, 251 volunteers generously contributed 9,502 hours to support the communities PCP supports. Using the Real Living Wage Foundation benchmark, this represents an in‑kind contribution valued at £143,670.

“Pauline, Matthew and Anita are truly deserving of this recognition. I want to thank them for their hard work and commitment, everyone at PCP hopes you enjoy your well‑earned break through the Room to Reward scheme.

“The dedication of our incredible volunteers supports PCP to deliver our health, wellbeing and learning programmes across North East communities.”

PCP has volunteer roles across the region, each offering opportunities to gain skills in different areas or develop new skills. For more information about volunteering at PCP, visit: www.pcp.uk.net/volunteers