It was great to see so many of our volunteers turn out for our Volunteer Celebration. It is one of the rare opportunities during the year that we can all get together to meet socially and we can extend our gratitude to our volunteers personally.
We were delighted to welcome Councillor Margaret Marks who has supported us, in particular this year, by selecting Our Special Friends as one of the charities for whom West Suffolk Council would raise funds during the year. She did an excellent job judging the ‘Dog with the Waggiest Tail’ and the ‘Dog Most Like its Owner’ and last but by no means least awarding the winner of the ‘Musical Dog Mats’.
We were blessed with perfect weather so we could enjoy our barbeque outside in the sunshine (thank you Tennants Butchers) whilst the dogs amused themselves on the dog agility equipment very kindly loaned to us by Lucy from Canine In-Tuition.
We had lots of helpers. Volunteering seems to be what our volunteers do best. But particular thanks must go to, Christine and Geoff, Karen and Greg, Celia and Jonathan, Jan, Jane Hughes and Jane Paley who all helped with the setting up, the taking down, the preparing of the food and drinks and the barbequing of sausages and beef burgers.
A week later than usual, due to the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, but it allowed us to extend our celebrations for Volunteers’ Week and it was to our advantage because the weather was so much better than last week.
We were very sorry that Frances, our wonderful Volunteer Support Manager, couldn’t be with us (due to COVID) after all the organising and preparation she had made for the event. Thankfully she left things in such good order that the team could pick up her instructions with ease. So even though she couldn’t attend, it does go without saying that we could not have done it without her.
Thank you to all of our staff and volunteers for making our annual event so much fun.
