SAVS were delighted to present Heidi Simms with a coveted volunteer award at their Volunteer Week event.

The Shield is awarded to an outstanding volunteer each year in memorial of Paula Range, a former Triple T volunteer.

Heidi Simms has been part of the SAVS volunteer family for some time now.  She initially joined the Supported Volunteering Project before moving over to Folk Like Us, where she enjoyed being part of the Feelgood Choir.

However, last year, after visiting our allotment (which is affectionally known as the ‘Muddy Hub’), she officially volunteered her time to maintain the plot over the winter months for us.  However, this space, has now been totally transformed and has a bumper harvest of vegetables and colourful flowers.

It is more accessible for our older members to visit and there is now a Polytunnel and shelving as well as raised beds.  This space has also become her own safe haven, spending many hours there with fellow volunteer Martin.

Heidi said, on receiving her award:

“Every attribute, skill set, knowledge that was, previously, locked inside of me, stifled, held back and distracted by various negative areas, situations and mental health symptoms have had the opportunity to be, gradually, unlocked, let out, and breath. This has allowed me to start regularly utilising these attributes, but more specifically, has now given me the further opportunity to learn more skills and knowledge, improving my existing attributes. Receiving the volunteer award was a shock, because although I know I have worked extremely hard to help reach our shared community goal at the allotment, my only thoughts were for our community, and, already, feel so blessed by how much this opportunity has changed my life, my mental health and my future community goals.

The volunteer award has solidified a lasting legacy, that I, truly, never expected to receive, on top of everything that I, already, feel this opportunity gives to me, every minute, every hour, of every day that I volunteer at the allotment. Thank you, with all of my being, heart, mind, body and soul.”