Seventeen long service awards were presented at our AGM including a 30-year long service award to Treetops volunteer Joyce Stokes.
Joyce, 82, from Borrowash, joined the charity in 1993 helping care for patients. She also provided catering support in the hospice kitchen in Risley every week, as well as supporting fundraising initiatives. Most recently, she helped a team of volunteers wrap over 600 handmade cakes to hand out to runners after the Derby 10k.
Joyce said she was ‘honoured’ to receive her award:
I can’t believe that 30 years have gone by so quickly. I have had wonderful times at the hospice made even more memorable by the many exceptional, welcoming, and friendly staff and volunteers here.
Many happy memories of volunteering
“During my time as a volunteer, I have done many different and satisfying roles. When I started at Treetops, Day Care for patients was held in a conservatory. We have certainly come a long way since then with so many changes. I have many happy memories which I will always treasure.”
Treetops Chief Executive, Julie Heath, received her 25-year long service award. She said:
Treetops at the heart of the local community
“It’s been a privilege to have been associated with Treetops for 25 years and to have watched its services develop over the years. We now work with over 3,000 families every year.I’m most proud of the kindness that prevails throughout the charity and the place that Treetops holds in the heart of the community.
“We have recently been lucky to benefit from the involvement of DIY SOS and BBC Children in Need. They galvanised over 900 people to build us a fantastic new children’s bereavement counselling and therapy centre which confirms how much Treetops is valued.”
In total, ten 15-year long service awards were presented along with three 20-year awards, three 25-year awards and one 30-year award.