A Celebration of Volunteering event, organised by local charity Cedar Foundation (Cedar), brought a unique opportunity to appreciate the contribution of dedicated individuals and recognise Cedar’s recent Investors in Volunteers accreditation. Speakers were invited to the event which was marked by a celebratory lunch and music from Belfast Rock Choir. The combination created a vibrant atmosphere for attendees to enjoy.

 

Guest speaker Denise Hayward, CEO Volunteer Now, presented the importance of Investors in Volunteers standards.

 

She said:

 

“Congratulations to Cedar Foundation for receiving the IiV accreditation again. This award shows the Cedar Foundation’s strong commitment to its volunteers and demonstrates what a fantastic place it is to volunteer.”

 

Volunteer Supervisor, Heather, spoke about the benefits of volunteering and outlined her experiences in her current role as Registered Manager at Cedar’s Karuna Living Options. She also illustrated the benefits that volunteering offers to the delivery of services.

 

She said:

 

“The commitment, generosity and kindness of volunteers continues to have a deep and lasting impact on the lives of our residents. Selflessly sharing their time and skills, each of our volunteers have become a much appreciated and cherished member of our Karuna family. Whether supporting activities for Learning Disability Pride, driving the minibus to community activities, accompanying residents on activities such as crafting and gardening the volunteers are they are a truly inspirational group of people.”

 

Speaking to attendees Elaine Armstrong, CEO Cedar, said:

“Volunteers play a crucial role in the success of the organisation and the impact we have. The importance we place on retaining the Investors in Volunteers Award shows the clear and intrinsic value we place on the contribution they make - as an organisation we would not thrive without our volunteers.

She continued:

“As we look to the future, volunteering will continue to play a strategic role in Cedar. We will strive to engage more volunteers, support them to fulfil their roles and ensure that our volunteer contributions are recognised and valued. Together, we make a greater impact and create more choice and opportunities for inclusion, leading to our vision of an inclusive society for all.”

The event concluded with Denise Hayward presenting Cedar’s Regional Volunteer Co-Ordinator, Marian Bryson, with the Investors in Volunteers award.