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Crisis Response Volunteers Win Mayor's Annual Volunteering Awards

Words by Smiley Team

The Mayor of London paid tribute to the “incredible” contribution made by Imperial Health Charity’s Crisis Response Volunteers as they were named among this year’s winners in the Mayor’s annual Volunteering Awards.

Sadiq Khan described our volunteers as “the best of our city”, recognising the vital part they played in helping our hospitals respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 350 volunteers stepped forward to support NHS staff and patients during the first wave earlier this year, helping to distribute food, drinks, toiletries and other essential supplies to wards and departments across the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust’s five hospitals.

The Mayor’s Volunteering Awards celebrate the work of dedicated Londoners who have given their time, skills and resources to support their communities throughout the pandemic.

Our volunteers came out on top in the Crisis Response category after hundreds of nominations were submitted by charities and community groups from all over London.

As a result of the award, we will receive an additional £5,000 prize from City Hall to support our work.

“These incredible volunteers reflect the very best of our city and their vital contribution was needed more than ever this year." Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London said. 

“They have all risen to the occasion in a uniquely testing year and, on behalf of all Londoners, I want to say a heartfelt thank you.

“Our volunteering awards are a real highlight of the year – allowing us to recognise the inspiring, committed and selfless Londoners who help make our city the greatest in the world.”

During the first wave of the pandemic, Imperial College Healthcare was among the busiest NHS trusts in England, treating more than 1,900 patients with Covid-19 between March and August.

The volunteers put themselves forward to support their local hospitals at a time when the rest of the community was being told to stay at home. They delivered more than 170,000 meals to hospital staff, facilitated over 100,000 visits at our pop-up shops and distributed 240 patient belongings sent in from home.

“Collectively our volunteers contributed more than 12,000 hours to support this mammoth operation, making the journey time and again to help our hospitals when they needed it most,” said Sam Morris, Head of Volunteering at Imperial Health Charity.

“At every turn, our volunteers performed their role with a smile on their face and a word of support for those around them working so hard to care for patients in the most challenging circumstances. They truly embodied our values – kind, collaborative, expert and aspirational – going above and beyond to help others in their hour of need.”

You can read more about the enormous impact our volunteers made during our Covid-19 response here. And you can watch the Mayor of London’s thank you message to volunteers here.

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