Ruth, 68 and from Borrowash, in Derbyshire, is one of just three people from across the UK who has been named a national finalist by Headway – the brain injury association, for the title of Volunteer of the Year.
The nomination recognises Ruth’s dedication to help an allotment project supporting brain injury survivors to continue after the city council pulled funding for the charity she was working for.
Ruth began working for Headway Derby as a support worker in 2006 and took the lead on running the group’s allotment project. She worked tirelessly on the project for more than eight years, helping to provide a place where brain injury survivors, as well as their friends and families, could enjoy gardening in a supportive atmosphere.
In February 2016, Derby City Council made the decision to withdraw grant funding from all local charities, including Headway Derby.
This had a very big impact on the charity and they had to reduce staffing numbers. Reluctantly, Ruth took voluntary redundancy. However, she understood the position that many of the charity’s members were facing, so in the lead up to her leaving date, she worked with the charity team to plan an alternative provision where some of those people losing their service would be able to meet up socially with support from volunteers.
Naturally the ideal place for this was the allotment and the week after Ruth was made redundant she returned to Headway Derby as a volunteer. Ruth now volunteers for Headway Derby every Friday and she leads a small team of volunteers who support members to meet and socialise, and carry out some gardening.
Richard Brooks, a long term member of Headway Derby, said he was relieved when Ruth was able to keep the allotment group going.
He said: “Coming along to the project gives me a focus and inspires me to do more things for myself. Without it I’d be sat on my own at home and I’d get into a rut that is difficult to get out of.
“Being at the allotment has made me more physically active and that has improved some health problems I’ve been having. It’s motivated me in all areas of my life and I’ve started to meet up socially with other people from Headway since coming to the allotment.”
Ruth said she was delighted to be shortlisted for the award – which is sponsored by Anthony Gold Solicitors.
She said: “It’s wonderful to be recognised in this way and very surprising. The allotment group might not seem that important but to people who go it provides vital support. A place where they get a break and some time away from their challenges, somewhere to enjoy nature and work on group goals. But it’s also a place they know they can get informal support or discuss their concerns. It’s the little things that make a big different and that is why I was determined that the group should continue. I value greatly the support of all the other volunteers who work with me on this valuable project; they wanted it to continue as much as I did".
Paul Clarke, Service Manager at Headway Derby nominated Ruth for the award. He said: “Ruth is such an important person to our members. Her caring, generous and quietly determined personality is so valued and we are so pleased she has been shortlisted for this award.
“Throughout her long service with Headway Derby Ruth has freely given her time and efforts to ensure that we’re providing the best possible support for our members. Ruth has been a strong advocate for the allotment project for many years and the fact that she volunteered to develop this project immediately following redundancy just shows how personally dedicated she is to improving the lives of people with brain injuries, putting aside her own personal interests to do so. Ruth’s enthusiasm for the project is infectious.”
Each year, Headway Annual Awards celebrates the exceptional efforts of survivors of brain injury and their carers. Ruth will discover if she is to be named Volunteer of the Year at a glittering ceremony at The Dorchester Hotel, in London, on Friday 16 December. Awards for Achiever and Carer of the Year will also be presented, alongside the Stephen McAleese Outstanding Contribution to Headway Award.
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