7 Aug 2006 - Neil Painter - North Warwickshire Volunteer of the Year 2006
In June 2006 North Warwickshire Council for Voluntary Service held an evening to recognise voluntary action across the Borough. Organisations were invited to put forward for recognition individuals who had made a valuable contribution over a period of 10 years or more. The Fellowship proposed Neil Painter for recognition, Neil had run the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme for the teenagers of the Fellowship for more than ten years.
At the presentation evening North Warwickshire CVS identified, from amongst those proposed for recognition, one individual as Volunteer of the Year 2006. The name announced was Neil Painter.
In announcing Neil as Volunteer of the Year 2006 the presenter went on to the read aloud the letter proposing Neil for recognition, as follows:
We, the membership of Polesworth Christian Fellowship, would like to put forward for recognition Mr Neil Painter who has been our Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme organiser for the past ten years. We think Neil deserves recognition not only for the years of dedicated service to the youngsters of our Boys' and Girls' Brigade Companies, but also because in 2006 our Award groups achieved their highest success to date with six Bronze and six Silver awards being gained, very much as a result of Neil's efforts.
Neil began his involvement with the Award Scheme all those years ago because he recognised the youngsters in the Brigades needed a new challenge as they grew into their older teenage years, something that would both stretch them and give them a stepping stone into the world of higher education and work. On his own initiative he researched the requirements and formed the first group to tackle the Bronze Award. Over the years he has seen youngsters work with varying success to gain the Award, he has been as frustrated as the youngsters as they balance the conflicting calls upon their time, yet he has remained supportive and determined for them to succeed.
Neil is not one to allow shortage of funds to inhibit the opportunities the Scheme offers putting his hand in his own pocket on occasions to meet transport costs for researching possible camp sites or routes for walks, taking a loss on camping fees or buying the odd tent or piece of equipment when a sale is on. Searching around for boots so no one is under equipped is another of his skills.
Mention should also be made of Iris, Neil's wife, who fully supports Neil's efforts even at the cost of arranging holidays around the schedule of walks to support the Expedition activity and the disruption to family celebrations that has occasionally occurred. Also, there's her help with drying out and cleaning wet and muddy equipment following yet another rain soaked walk.
So this brings us to the success recently celebrated with the presentation of six Bronze and six Silver Awards at the North Warwickshire Borough Council offices in February of this year. Due recognition needs to be given to the individuals who worked hard over many months to gain the Awards, the success is theirs, however its upon the encouragement given by Neil together with the work he puts in organising the expeditions that their success is in many ways founded.
Now to the future and Neil has already established a new group to tackle the Bronze Award, but his greater challenge is still to come as for the first time he is working with five individuals who are starting out on the Gold Award. The individuals are committed and so is Neil!
Neil is dedicated to seeing teenagers realise their full potential through the challenges offered by the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, he is supportive of each individual, keeps parents informed and involved, and dedicates a considerable amount of his free time to preparation and study which no one sees. (In 2005 Neil completed BELA training over four weekends to enable him to assess expeditions run by other organisations.)
We are happy to recommend Neil for recognition at this years Volunteer Celebration Event.
At the presentation evening North Warwickshire CVS identified, from amongst those proposed for recognition, one individual as Volunteer of the Year 2006. The name announced was Neil Painter.
In announcing Neil as Volunteer of the Year 2006 the presenter went on to the read aloud the letter proposing Neil for recognition, as follows:
We, the membership of Polesworth Christian Fellowship, would like to put forward for recognition Mr Neil Painter who has been our Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme organiser for the past ten years. We think Neil deserves recognition not only for the years of dedicated service to the youngsters of our Boys' and Girls' Brigade Companies, but also because in 2006 our Award groups achieved their highest success to date with six Bronze and six Silver awards being gained, very much as a result of Neil's efforts.
Neil began his involvement with the Award Scheme all those years ago because he recognised the youngsters in the Brigades needed a new challenge as they grew into their older teenage years, something that would both stretch them and give them a stepping stone into the world of higher education and work. On his own initiative he researched the requirements and formed the first group to tackle the Bronze Award. Over the years he has seen youngsters work with varying success to gain the Award, he has been as frustrated as the youngsters as they balance the conflicting calls upon their time, yet he has remained supportive and determined for them to succeed.
Neil is not one to allow shortage of funds to inhibit the opportunities the Scheme offers putting his hand in his own pocket on occasions to meet transport costs for researching possible camp sites or routes for walks, taking a loss on camping fees or buying the odd tent or piece of equipment when a sale is on. Searching around for boots so no one is under equipped is another of his skills.
Mention should also be made of Iris, Neil's wife, who fully supports Neil's efforts even at the cost of arranging holidays around the schedule of walks to support the Expedition activity and the disruption to family celebrations that has occasionally occurred. Also, there's her help with drying out and cleaning wet and muddy equipment following yet another rain soaked walk.
So this brings us to the success recently celebrated with the presentation of six Bronze and six Silver Awards at the North Warwickshire Borough Council offices in February of this year. Due recognition needs to be given to the individuals who worked hard over many months to gain the Awards, the success is theirs, however its upon the encouragement given by Neil together with the work he puts in organising the expeditions that their success is in many ways founded.
Now to the future and Neil has already established a new group to tackle the Bronze Award, but his greater challenge is still to come as for the first time he is working with five individuals who are starting out on the Gold Award. The individuals are committed and so is Neil!
Neil is dedicated to seeing teenagers realise their full potential through the challenges offered by the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, he is supportive of each individual, keeps parents informed and involved, and dedicates a considerable amount of his free time to preparation and study which no one sees. (In 2005 Neil completed BELA training over four weekends to enable him to assess expeditions run by other organisations.)
We are happy to recommend Neil for recognition at this years Volunteer Celebration Event.