Mayor of Bury praises staff, service users and volunteers during NHS achievement event
Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMW) played host to a ‘Celebration of Volunteering and Learning’ event during this year’s nationwide Festival of Learning (1 May to 30 June) and Volunteers’ Week (1-12 June) where the Mayor of Bury, Cllr Mike Connolly, praised staff, service users and volunteers for their achievements.
The event, which took place on Friday 10 June 2016 at the Recovery Academy’s Central Hub, The Curve in Prestwich, celebrated lifelong learning and the invaluable work of GMW’s volunteers. The event gave recognition to the positive impact adult learning and volunteering can achieve for individuals, their families, communities, employers and the economy. This year, volunteers across the Trust were nominated for ‘Volunteer of the Year’ awards by staff, for making an exemplary contribution to the Trust in their volunteering role.
Students from GMW’s learning programmes were awarded their certificates of achievement, at the event, by the Mayor of Bury. Delegates heard how courses run at the Trust, such as ‘Leadership and Management’ training and ‘British Sign Language Courses’ can improve the care provided to service users. During the event, delegates also heard from peer mentors who shared how further training and experience empowers and enhances their lives and the lives of others.
Festival of Learning, which is run by the Learning and Work Institute, is a national celebration of lifelong learning; the biggest in England and is now in its 24th year, formally known as Adult Learners Week.
Claire Watson, GMW’s Recovery Academy, Service User Engagement & Volunteer Lead, said:
“This event celebrates the remarkable achievements of adults who have used learning to transform their lives. We have been able to highlight how lifelong learning benefits society and the economy.
“This year we also invited our volunteers, to celebrate their equally remarkable achievements throughout our services.
“GMW has a great deal of learning opportunities available, through our Recovery Academy and other courses, alongside many volunteer opportunities at the Trust, I would encourage anyone who can, to get involved.”
Mayor of Bury, Cllr Mike Connolly
“It was an honour to be invited to present the certificates for the learners and volunteers and we both enjoyed ourselves immensely. Congratulations and best wishes to all who received the awards.”
