Local news
South West Region Conference and Awards
The 2021 South West Region Volunteer Conference took place at Dartington Hall near Totnes in October.
Volunteers from across the region as well as CSSC Head Office staff met over 2 days to discuss topics working better together, the search for a new normal after covid and communications processes.
We also got to celebrate some of our wonderful volunteer successes.
South West Region Volunteer of the Year 2020
Yeovil Area's biggest event of the year is the long weekend at Whitemead Forest Park. With booking for around 20 apartments and excellent negotiating skills for a very preferential discount for CSSC members in Yeovil and from around the Region, volunteer Fiona Parks has demonstrated her prowess as an accomplished organiser. When lockdown first happened, she kept everyone updated regularly.
When it became clear that some of their facilities would not be open due to a lockdown, Fiona had liaised with Whitemead, agreed to take a full refund and the Area had received the money back in full. Thanks to Fiona's hard work, everyone booked on got reimbursed within the week. Hours of work and dedication in difficult times for Fiona, but all done willingly & cheerfully for no benefit on her part. A true CSSC volunteer, and South West Region Volunteer of the Year for 2020, thank you Fiona Parks. (Pictured is Yeovil Area Chair Audrey Haskell accepting the award on Fiona's behalf from CSSC Group Operations Director Wendy Eley)
South West Region Sports Organiser of the Year 2021
Since becoming a volunteer with CSSC South West, this volunteer has taken on their role with finesse. Passionate about their sport and an extremely capable organiser, this person sought to arrange events that appeal to members in a competitive sense as a Regional Qualifier, and in a more relaxed non-competitive ‘come and have a go way’.
This person has received a special mention from our Events Coordinator Rachel Pearce for his kindness and help whilst Rachel learned about the Region in her new role. The sporting event organised this year had 50 initial entrants and we are confident that next year with politics and budgets ironed out, we can support this person in providing even more great events for our members to enjoy. A big thank you and congratulations to Jim George CSSC South West Golf Organiser.
South West Region Volunteer of the Year 2021
This volunteer has been described as ‘the glue that holds their Area Association together’. Since they first became a volunteer for CSSC, they have worked incredibly hard and in a multitude of roles. Always willing to help out, being super responsive, reliable and consistent in their approach to CSSC and member enquiries. This person takes pride in the standard of service provided to members, regularly comes up with new ideas, is positive to be around, and if something needs doing - they get on a do it.
Area colleagues have also described this volunteer as’ the driving force behind our events and our Area’, and this has always really been the case, but over the past year this person has really shown that during a very challenging time, where Area colleagues needed support or were unavailable, this person was always there and can be described (as Hedley Featherstone would say) as a ‘stalwart of the Area’. South West Region Volunteer of the Year 2021 goes to Debbie Jones of Exeter & Torbay Area.
South West Conference Awards
