Recognising Exceptional Contributions

The Roll of Honour includes a special Volunteer Roll of Honour featuring three categories that acknowledge different levels of commitment:

• Bronze Award: 500 hours of volunteer service
• Silver Award: 1,000 hours of volunteer service
• Gold Award: 2,000 hours of volunteer service

Volunteers who achieve these milestones will receive a lapel pin badge to mark their accomplishment. Their names will also be displayed on our website—unless they opt out—so we can publicly acknowledge their remarkable contributions. Additionally, we will review past records to identify and honour those who have already met these milestones.

A Broader Commitment to Recognising Supporters

The Roll of Honour is part of The Parish Trust’s broader commitment to honouring and recognising everyone who significantly contributes to our charity. Whether they are volunteers, individual supporters, groups, or businesses, we believe that all contributions should be acknowledged.

We have developed a suite of resources to support this, including:

• Recognition events
• Ongoing training opportunities
• New experiences
• A holiday scheme specifically for volunteers

The Roll of Honour adds another layer to this commitment, ensuring that the extraordinary efforts of our supporters do not go unnoticed.

Rev. Dean Aaron Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of The Parish Trust, shared his thoughts on this new initiative:

“Recognising the hard work and dedication of all who support The Parish Trust is a core value of ours. The Roll of Honour is just one of the many ways we express our gratitude. By offering a variety of resources and recognition opportunities, we aim to make involvement with us a truly rewarding experience.”

The Power of Support

The success of The Parish Trust relies on the collective efforts of everyone who supports us. Last year, our volunteers alone contributed over 5,000 hours of service, saving the charity more than £86,000 in costs. These immense contributions allow us to extend our reach and provide more support to those who need it most. Our supporters are the driving force behind everything we do, and their efforts have a profound impact on our community.

Carrie Gealy, Youth and Children’s Programme Manager, spoke about the value of community support:

“Being part of The Parish Trust is not just about giving time; it’s about being part of a community and making a real difference. Our supporters gain so much in return, from new skills and experiences to lasting friendships. We’re proud to offer a range of resources that make supporting us both enjoyable and meaningful. As the person who heads up youth volunteering in the charity, I am particularly glad that we are creating initiatives that honour people who step out to make a difference.”

The Importance of Tracking Contributions

To ensure that contributions are accurately recorded, The Parish Trust uses dedicated software to track volunteer hours and other significant contributions. This system is essential for maintaining accurate records and ensuring that everyone receives the recognition they deserve. We encourage all supporters to use this system consistently so that their hard work is fully acknowledged.

Nerys Beckett, CARE Project Lead, highlighted the importance of this process:

“Accurate tracking of volunteer hours and contributions is key to recognising the incredible dedication of our supporters. By using our tracking system, we can ensure that every hour and every effort is counted and celebrated. Within the CARE Project alone there are over 100 volunteers registered, and every one of them adds something valuable to the work of the charity—we don’t want a minute to go to waste, as we are grateful for all the time that is given to us and the work we do.”

Celebrating Dedication Across the Board

We hope that the Roll of Honour will be a meaningful addition to The Parish Trust’s efforts to support and celebrate all who contribute to our work. By recognising significant milestones, we both honour those who have made significant contributions and inspire others to join us in our work.

If you believe you, your group, or someone you know has made a significant contribution, please get in touch.

For more information about the Roll of Honour please see our dedicated page.

Supported by The Savoy Educational Trust, Caitlyn, who is a 16 year old school leaver, has quickly found her stride within the catering and hospitality domain at The Parish Trust. Her journey exemplifies the organisation’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing opportunities for personal and professional growth, enabling a wide range of individuals to step into a more fulfilling life.

Since joining the programme, Caitlyn has seamlessly integrated into the team at The Parish Trust, demonstrating not only a strong aptitude for culinary arts but also a genuine passion for making a difference in her community. Her contributions to our Meals for Families events have been particularly noteworthy, with her delectable puddings becoming a highlight for attendees.

Reflecting on her experience so far, Caitlyn shared,

Becoming a part of The Profectus Programme at The Parish Trust has been a big journey for me. I’ve learned so much already and discovered a genuine love for cooking and hospitality. It’s amazing to see how food can bring people together and make a difference in their lives. I left school as soon as I could and didn’t know what to do with my career as I had very limited options open to me, but this opportunity has opened things up and I’m excited about the future.

Rev. Dean Aaron Roberts, CEO of The Parish Trust, expressed his pride in Caitlyn’s achievements, stating,

Caitlyn’s dedication and talent exemplify the spirit of our organisation. We have been blown away to see her progress even in these early months of her studies here, where she has already started to thrive and make a meaningful impact through her work. The financial support from The Savoy Educational Trust has been essential to enable this to happen, and we are immensely grateful for their funding. I would also like to thank Llamau, a partner charity of ours, who helped signpost Caitlyn to us and have been instrumental in nurturing Caitlyn’s potential.

Beyond Caitlyn’s individual success, The Parish Trust remains steadfast in its mission to uplift communities and provide pathways for sustainable change. Through initiatives like The Profectus Programme, the organisation continues to empower individuals, enriching lives and fostering a culture of achievement.

The Parish Trust would like to wish Caitlyn every success as she continues to excel in her apprenticeship.

My name is Adrian Clarke and I would like to tell you about my experiences working at the Parish Trust in Trethomas and how it has helped me. 

I came here, thanks to the help of an occupational therapist, who helped me try and move forward after losing my son to a car crash in January 2019. 

I also suffer with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which has been very difficult to deal with. I have always had this and it makes concentrating and focussing on things extremely difficult to do. I often find that my mind wanders to many things but eventually always finds its way back to the death of my son – I still can’t believe that it’s real. I have recurring dreams about my son being alive but then have to remind myself when I awake that he is dead. My physical health hasn’t been too great either and in December I had to have a 5 hour long operation but I am feeling much better now!

One can not prepare for the death of their own child but I always say to myself that if my son had been ill for a long time then perhaps that would have been easier to cope with. However, my son, Jason, spoke to me only a few hours before he was tragically killed by a drunk driver in another vehicle – a loss that I never thought I would have to go through in my life.

After Jason’s death, I found it very hard to be with people and I lost interest in that. The Occupational Therapist helped me by offering places where I could volunteer and I tried with various places. Things such as: working in a coffee shop – where I helped serve customers, wash dishes and also, any ‘odd jobs’ that they wanted me to do. The people were all so very nice wherever I went but it didn’t feel like home.

I must mention the footballer, Marcus Rashford, who plays for Manchester United and how he got involved with food banks – it very much inspired me to begin with. I thought, “if I could have the opportunity to do a similar kind of work then I would love to do that”. When the opportunity was offered to me by my Occupational Therapist, I took it and I am so glad that I did! 

I was put in contact with the people at the Parish Trust to volunteer at their food bank – where I have stayed for almost 2 years. Although it began with packing food parcels (which I still do every week), I have helped assist with the deliveries of food parcels and I also work at the community garden – where I have spent many hours.

The people here have helped me turn my life around and I now feel purposeful. The garden project, I have been doing for some time has given me something to focus on which has helped a lot with my ADHD. The staff here have been great with me and I have been given a ‘free hand’ to design and create something special in the garden.  The support I have received has been amazing and makes me feel emotional. I now feel part of something – a feeling that has been missing for a big part of my life but now, they feel almost like a family to me. 

I hope to urge anyone who is out there that is struggling for whatever reason, to step forward and volunteer. I am so glad that I did and I will forever be grateful to the Parish Trust – they even called the garden ‘Ade’s Garden’ after me and put a sign on the wall – a small gesture but it meant the world to me!