Volunteers working with vulnerable children and families in Cumbria were awarded for their achievements and long service at a charity event.

Around 20 volunteers working at Barnardo’s children’s centres across the county were joined by staff at the celebration at Lingholm Estate at Portinscale, near Keswick.

The volunteers all work in roles directly supporting families in Cumbria, ranging from health champions and children’s activity workers, to drivers who help families struggling to travel to appointments.

Amongst those celebrated and awarded at the event was David Lunney, 71, who lives in Allerdale and has been volunteering for more than 10 years in a number of roles with Barnardo’s.

He received a long service award and a Barnardo’s rose for his garden.

David’s wife previously worked for Barnardo’s and encouraged him to start volunteering for the charity after he retired from his job as a maintenance fitter.

David has volunteered as a driver, providing a lifeline for families by helping transport them to appointments and children to and from preschool.

He also volunteers on the Let’s Cook Together courses run by Barnardo’s in Maryport and Workington, teaching groups of parents and children how to cook together and learn about healthy eating.

David also enjoys his role in helping to run forest school groups, taking children bird and animal watching, building dens and making fires with flints.

He said: “It’s great to be able to take kids back to nature in the forest schools like when I was a kid. The children love it and it’s amazing to see their faces when they spot a deer or accomplish things we used to take for granted.

"I also love helping out on the cookery courses and getting the kids involved in preparing and making the food. Often if parents see how much the children are enjoying it, it rubs off on them too.

"I’ve learnt so much through my volunteering roles with Barnardo’s and would recommend it to anyone, it’s such a worthwhile thing to do.”

Macauley Pattinson, 22, from Carlisle has been volunteering with Barnardo’s for five years at children’s centres in and around Carlisle.

He was recently awarded the national Marsh Trust Young Volunteer of the Year award for his services over the past year helping to run a crèche in Carlisle to look after children of refugees while their parents attend English classes. Macauley carries out his volunteering once a week alongside his childcare studies at Carlisle College.

His mother and sister also volunteer for the charity.

Macauley said: “It’s great to see the change in the children as their confidence grows as they attend the sessions each week, and it’s an amazing feeling to receive an award for something I love doing so much.

"Volunteering has helped to grow my own confidence and enabled me to start studying for a childcare qualification at college. All the staff at Barnardo’s are so supportive, both with my volunteering and with my studies, and I have learnt a lot from them.”

Zara McKnight, 19, is from Carlisle and has just finished her first year studying for a degree in applied psychology at the University of Cumbria.

She has only been volunteering with Barnardo’s children’s centres for around six weeks, but has already thrown herself into supporting lots of different group activities each week, including baby massage classes, forest schools, groups supporting vulnerable children and health champion sessions, supporting new parents with babies.

Zara said: “I am really enjoying volunteering at various children’s groups and would recommend it to any students, not just those studying a course related to the charity, such as childcare.

"It’s so important to gain experience outside of the university environment and the benefits of volunteering extend beyond just gaining practical experience and expertise in specific areas – it helps build confidence and you meet new people and friends.”

Jacquie Baccar, Barnardo’s volunteer co-ordinator for Cumbria, said: “It was great to be able to celebrate the contribution that so many of our volunteers in Cumbria make by giving up their free time for Barnardo’s, and to recognise the impact they have on the lives of so many children and families across Cumbria.

“In total we have around 50 people who volunteer their time in Cumbria to support children’s services operated by Barnardo’s.

"We simply could not operate without our volunteers’ support and we are so grateful for the time they dedicate to us.”

To fins out about volunteering with Barnardo's visit

www.barnardos.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer

or call Jacquie on 01228 593810.