Central Bedfordshire Council news and press releases

Jubilant applause for Jan as she receives ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award

Wednesday, 12 June 2019

Hundreds of people turned out to see Janet Burgess from Houghton Regis receive her award as Central Bedfordshire’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the fifth annual ‘Cheering Volunteering’ awards ceremony.

Hundreds of people turned out to see Janet Burgess from Houghton Regis receive her award as Central Bedfordshire’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the fifth annual ‘Cheering Volunteering’ awards ceremony held at The Grove Theatre, Dunstable on 4 June.

Jan has volunteered at Sue Ryder St John's Hospice for almost four years beginning as receptionist but was soon chosen to be lead receptionist, overseeing a team of approximately 35 other volunteers. Jan's duties are front of house, meaning she deals with patients, visitors, doctors, nurses, staff and other volunteers both in person and on the phone. Her citation read: “Her empathetic and compassionate personality allows her to deal with delicate situations in a caring yet professional manner. Her organisational skills are second to none!”

Jan and a committee of volunteers are organising a Country Fayre in the summer to raise funds for the hospice. She has been contacting organisations for donations, sponsorship and raffle prizes and due to her professional, friendly approach has been very successful.

Leigh Chapman from St John’s Hospice, who nominated Jan for the Award said: “Jan has gone far beyond what is expected of her in her role with us and nothing is ever too much trouble. I also think she would be the last person to expect to be nominated for this award, let alone receiving it.”

The annual event, organised by us, working in partnership with the volunteer centres as part of Central Bedfordshire Together, began in 2015 to thank the many volunteers and voluntary organisations across Central Bedfordshire for the often-unheralded work they do to help others in their community.