Recognition for Local NCT volunteer

Willemijn Bando shortlisted for Awards

Hardworking NCT fundraiser Willemijn Bando from Chiswick & Hammersmith Branch has been shortlisted for the NCT Stars Awards for her contribution to the charity. The Awards which will be presented next week , celebrate the enthusiasm and dedication of those who volunteer to making the charity’s services available to parents and parents-to-be across the UK.

Chiswick & Hammersmith Branch raised over £6,000 this year to further NCT’s services for parents and parents-to-be across the UK. Willemijn organised several events including a Christmas party entertaining nearly 200 local children, a Nearly New Sale which 361 parents attended and a successful Cheeky Monkey Tea Party. She also managed to gain the support of local businesses for the charity fundraising events.

Willemijn said: “I am delighted to be shortlisted for this award. It means a lot to be recognised for the work I’ve done. I have found it hugely rewarding and I have learned so much organising events for my local NCT branch. Local businesses and performers all pulled together to create wonderfully entertaining events on a zero budget, raising a lot of funds. A win-win-win situation! I am very proud to have been able to make a difference.”

A high volume of nominations were received from NCT’s 100,000 plus supporters across the country for six different categories representing the range of different roles volunteers take on for the charity.

NCT has over 10,000 volunteers who give their time, energy and skills in more than 300 branches through a wide range of roles: providing support for parents, co-ordinating branch activities, fundraising, editing newsletters and much more.

The NCT Stars Awards, sponsored by Pampers, will be awarded at a special event at the House of Lords on 26 October to celebrate the European Year of the Volunteer.

Sue Saxey, President of NCT and a long-standing volunteer herself, will be presenting the awards. She said: “NCT Stars Awards are a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the achievements of our hard-working, creative and committed volunteers. All our volunteers make a huge difference to the charity’s work, providing a much-needed support network for local parents, and we would not be able to reach as far and wide as we do without them. We hope their success will encourage others to give volunteering a try!”

October 22, 2011