Pictured: Maureen Kearney, a homevisiting volunteer and trustee at Home-Start Down District is pictured with Alastair Stewart and Kirstie Allsopp.

Maureen Kearney, a home-visiting volunteer and trustee at Home-Start Down District, has won the Longest Serving Volunteer Award – Northern Ireland in the charity’s national awards.

At a gala awards dinner hosted by the charity’s national ambassadors, Kirstie Allsopp and Alastair Stewart, Maureen was presented with a glass trophy and a certificate signed by the charity’s royal patron, HRH Princess Alexandra. The dinner took place at the charity’s national convention in Nottingham, on Monday 21 March.

Maureen, who has volunteered for Home-Start for 21 years, is one of 14,808 amazing home-visiting volunteers and 2,448 volunteer trustees who gave their time to Home-Start to support families across the UK this year.

Maureen was nominated for the award by a family that she has supported at the Downpatrick-based charity. Dorothy McMullan, manager, said, “Maureen has helped many families in Down District through difficult circumstances and she continues to home visit and is our current chairperson. As we celebrate our 25th birthday this year, Maureen has been at the helm and is battling to keep our two schemes open while our funding is cut. She has made a real difference to the lives of local families, creating a bank of childhood memories in the children’s lives she has supported.

“Recently a teenager stopped in the street and thanked her for the support she gave to his family years ago when he was a child. He said “we called you earring as you always wore big earrings and we loved the days you came to visit us.”

After receiving the award, Maureen said, “I was thrilled to receive the award, but I feel that I didn’t need to be thanked, what I get from volunteering is reward enough. But I was delighted to receive the longest serving volunteer in Northern Ireland. I strongly believe in the work that Home Start does.

I would highly recommend anyone with parenting experience to join the Home Start team and help families through challenging times. Our next training course starts on Friday 29th April in Ballynahinch for all volunteers from throughout the district.”

In a written message to all the winning volunteers, HRH Princess Alexandra said, “This occasion is a wonderful way to celebrate all that can be accomplished by working together with one common purpose – to help parents and children to cope and thrive as they face very difficult circumstances.

“I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you and, this evening, I extend my personal thanks to all Home-Start Volunteers for your compassion for families and children and for your gifts of time, energy and care.

“My special congratulations go to this year’s winners and runners up. Thank you for your selflessness and kindness and for the very great difference you make to families.”

Before the awards ceremony, Maureen and the winners of the other Home-Start national volunteer award categories were treated to a pamper afternoon, courtesy of The White Rose School of Health and Beauty, and afternoon tea with Kirstie Allsopp.