So Proud of our ‘Be Proud’ Volunteer Team of the Year!

In December the enthusiasm and commitment of our Talk English Manchester volunteers was recognised at Manchester’s Be Proud Awards, an annual awards ceremony organised by Manchester City Council to recognise people, projects and organisations who work hard to help their area shine and support others. The Be Proud Awards 2015 took place on Friday 4 December in the magnificent […]

The Be Proud Awards 2015 took place on Friday 4 December in the magnificent Great Hall at Manchester Town Hall, and the Talk English Manchester Volunteer Team were absolutely thrilled to win the award for Volunteer Team of the Year.

Five of our volunteers were lucky enough to attend this special event to receive the award on behalf of the wider team of more than 100 volunteers who have supported the project since 2014, alongside Talk English Teacher Trainer and Mentor, Lisa Robinson. Here are their stories from the night…

Moira Haworth- volunteering since April 2014; currently teaching at Levenshulme Inspire

I went to the Be Proud Awards at the Town Hall. It was a magnificent event. We all enjoyed it. We were very pleased when we won the category. I was listening to the preamble before they announced the winner, trying to work out who would win it, and was delighted when we did. I was thinking about all the hard work the Talk English team had done to achieve this!

It was an exciting evening, the setting was very impressive and we met a range of people in the pre-meal reception. It was nice for the volunteers and Lisa to celebrate together.

John Stoddart- volunteering since April 2014; currently teaching at Benchill Community Centre in Wythenshawe

I have been involved with the Talk English project for a while now. I first got involved as a Talk English Friend as a way to give back to the community. This gave me the chance to be able to give back some of the support I had received as a student from MAES. Then I got the opportunity to do the Level 3 Award in Education and Training and to teach an ESOL class. From this I had the honour of representing the Talk English project at the Be Proud Awards 2015.

The Project won the voluntary group of the year award. I am so grateful for the experience that this project has given me and this award shows just how much we have been able to change the lives of so many people. It is important that we continue to do what we can to help others on their journey of learning and to help the project move forward in the new year. Don’t you agree?

Hayder Kareem- volunteering since January 2015; currently teaching at Abraham Moss Library in Crumpsall

After reading the details of all the other nominees in our category (group volunteers) I hoped we would be the winner. As a group of volunteers, I believe we’ve done something big and special- no one else done it as we have. It’s a reward for all Talk English staff and especially the volunteers who dedicated thier time and effort to deliver the best classes and activities for people who need help learning English. It was lovely night and I feel really proud that our efforts have been recognised and rewarded.

Sue Benson- volunteering from September 2014 – June 2015 at Trinity House Community Resource Centre in Rusholme

On arrival at the Town Hall we received a glass of Prosecco and mingled with other finalists and guests. We were later escorted into the main function room which looked absolutely stunning. When seated at our table we flicked through the brochure of the nominees and the categories. It was really exciting and a great achievement to be in the top three nominees for the Volunteer Team of the Year.

We were served a three course meal with wine and then the presentation began following a speech from the Lord Mayor. We eagerly awaited our category and we were thrilled when we were announced as the winner. It was such a joyous occasion and we were delighted as we went up to the stage to receive the award which was followed by the Manchester Evening News taking our photograph.

Although teaching English is enjoyable and rewarding, winning this award not only recognises our effort and commitment but highlights how peoples lives have positively changed through the project and the volunteers dedication and hard work.

Here at Talk English, we are SO proud of all of our volunteers across Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Lancashire and Merseyside who give up their time, week in, week out, to help others learn English. Thank you to all of them!