Lower Earley woman Thrives on volunteering

Thrive held it’s first Volunteer of the Year Award on Friday 27th November at Thrive’s headquarters at Beech Hill, near Reading, to recognise and reward the major contribution volunteers make to Thrive, the small national charity that helps disabled people through gardening. Dr Christina H Williams, High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire presented the awards.

Members of Thrive staff, volunteers and disabled gardeners nominated 28 people who were judged on a variety of criteria including enthusiasm, commitment, empathy and that 'extra’ special reason.

The winner of Thrive’s first Volunteer of the Year Award was Judy Tiplady from Lower Earley, Reading. Judy has been a volunteer a Thrive’s national office since October 2008. Her husband John was a therapist at Thrive’s Trunkwell Garden Project but sadly died. It was then Judy decided to start at Thrive as a volunteer working in Thrive’s office carrying out a wide variety of roles from admin through to helping at events and even painting! Given this is where her husband worked, it evokes bitter sweet feelings for her.

Nicola Carruthers, Chief Executive of Thrive says "Judy epitomises what Thrive stands for – our belief in the ability of human beings to triumph over adversity. Everyday we see people who face the challenges that life has thrown at them and everyday we see how they overcome them with humour, frequently with humility and regularly with ingenuity. Judy is a great example of this and a worthy winner of our first Volunteer of the Year Award."

July Tiplady says "Thrive, I believe has a superb network of volunteers who bring many and varied attributes to the charity. For that reason I feel extremely honoured and humbled to be the recipient of the first Volunteer of the Year Award. The charity does exceptional work in glorious surroundings; it is a privilege to be a part of it. I gain so much pleasure and enjoyment from being with the staff, co-volunteers and clients that to have this award bestowed upon me too – well, it just couldn’t get any better than that."

Thrive would not be able to help nearly as many disabled people through gardening without the invaluable help of its volunteers. Each year Thrive receives over12,000 hours of support from members of the public and from teams of corporate volunteers. 83 people volunteer at Thrive on a regular basis which is over double the number of staff the charity employs. This year 760 corporate volunteers from 43 companies, have provided over 6,000 hours of help and support as well.

Volunteers come to Thrive for many reasons; some to gain skills and experience, to give something back in their local community or others as an interim step to employment. Companies send volunteer groups as a team building exercise or to give something back.

Volunteers help the charity in a wide variety of ways from office and administrative work, gardening, supporting disabled gardeners to getting involved with events and even helping with fundraising activities.

If you would like to find out more about Thrive or are interested in volunteering at Thrive, please visit Thrive’s website at www.thrive.org.uk, call Thrive on 0118 988 5688 or email them at info@thrive.org.uk.

- Ends -

2 December 2009

For further information, please contact:

Janet Carruzzo
T: 0118 988 5688
M: 07788 141 997
E: Janet.carruzzo@thrive.org.uk

Notes to Editors


1. A spokesperson from Thrive is available. Please contact the numbers above. A photo is attached.

2. Thrive is a small national charity that wants to help all those
touched by a disability to be able to transform their lives using gardening.

Thrive helps over 6,500 disabled people to carry on gardening at home or in a community setting or who may want to access structured horticultural therapy programmes at its sites in Battersea Park in London and Beech Hill, near Reading.

Gardening can bring profound change, from improvements in physical or psychological health and wellbeing to adjustments in beliefs, attitudes or behaviours to the transformation of skills, knowledge and abilities.

Thrive Registered charity no. 277570

Thrive offers free help and advice to disabled gardeners through its
Information Service over the phone 0118 988 5688, by email at
info@thrive.org.uk or through its new website
www.carryongardening.org.uk.

For more information please contact: Thrive, The Geoffrey Udall Centre, Beech Hill, Reading RG7 2AAT. T. 0118 988 5688. email: info@thrive.org.uk. Websites: www.thrive.org.uk and www.carryongardening.org.uk