Volunteers are vital to the running of numerous services at Southway. From the organisation of Age Friendly projects like Men in Sheds, to supporting struggling families through our 'Quids in' Clubs, our volunteers make a profound and lasting impact in our communities. We are hugely grateful to every volunteer who has given their time, energy and talents to supporting these projects and changing the lives of the people they assist.

In March, we held a celebratory event to personally thank our volunteers for all their help. The evening was a fantastic success, and a great opportunity for the volunteers to socialise and celebrate each other's achievements. Following speeches from Karen Mitchell, our Chief Executive, and Sam MacWilliam, Chair of the Board, prizes were awarded to our volunteers as a token of appreciation.

All of the volunteers we celebrated are listed below, and we would once again like to give our heartfelt thanks for everything they do for Southway.

If you are interested in volunteering for Southway, you can find out more by checking out the Get Involved area. By volunteering, even a few hours every month, you can meet like-minded people while making a positive impact to your community, just like those listed below.

Groups and Volunteers

Click on the tabs below, to see the groups and individuals we were proud to celebrate.  

  • People and Places Committee

    The Committee focuses on monitoring the delivery of our core Landlord services and scrutinises performance. They are responsible for ensuring that the Trust understands the impact the Landlord service has on our neighbourhoods. The Committee is made up of 8 people, 4 of which are Southway tenants.

    We would like to thank:

    • Memuna Bangura

    • Michelle Duhaney

    • Jim Hutton

    • Ursula Pabisch

     

  • Tenant Scrutiny Panel

    This group of tenants take an in depth look at our services and carry out interviews with staff and other tenants. They look at reports and performance, and then make recommendations to the People & Places Committee. All of the Panel work very hard and show real commitment.

    Our thanks go to:

    • Jean Ashbee

    • Roy Gregory

    • Jean Holt

    • Jim Hutton

    • Liam Murphy

    • Maggie Walker

     

  • Residents’ Consultative Group

    This is long-standing group meet every six weeks to comment on policy, performance and current issues.

    Special thanks to:

    • Jean Egan

    • Ruth Emmerson

    • Roy Gregory

    • Jean Holt

    • Jim Hutton

    • Liam Murphy

    • Dennis Powell

    • Derek Stephenson

    • Maggie Walker

     

  • Tenant and Resident Groups

    These volunteers work together to improve their local areas and create a community spirit in their local neighbourhoods.

    Thank you to:

    • Arrowfield & Hough End Community Action Group

    • Barlow Hall Neighbourhood Group

    • Burnage North T & R A

    • East Didsbury Community Group

    • Merseybank Estate Group

    • West Didsbury Estate Community Group

     

  • Green Inspectors

    These volunteers regularly inspect our green spaces, and report back to the Environment Team to identify any issues.

    We wish to thank:

    • Estelita Alivez

    • Ms Benjamin

    • Jean Egan

    • Charlotte Hardman

    • Jim Hutton

    • Dee Lees

    • Mike Lever

    • Alison Shortt

    • Ms G Sweeney

    • Chris Walls

    • Gavin White

    • Dominic Wright

     

  • 'Quids in' Volunteers

    We have a number of volunteers working across our 5 ‘Quids in’ clubs. These people make a significant contribution to Southway and our neighbourhoods.

    Our thanks go to: 

    • Anthony Annison

    • Jan O’Brien

    • Sheilee Cherry

    • Julie Daley

    • Tanya Daly

    • Dgany El Nar

    • Charlotte Hardman

    • June Hardy

    • Caroline Hesford

    • Emma Jones

    • Toni Joseph

    • William Keenan

    • Pat Kelsall

    • Andrew Keogh

    • Norman Lewis

    • Sheila Lindley

    • Dr Mary Maclachlan

    • Bernie Ryan

    • Joe Scholar

    • Leanne Thomason

    • Margaret Delaney Ward

    • Julie Gallagher

     

  • Westcroft Community Centre Volunteers

    Westcroft Community Centre has become central to the local community, a position that was recognised by the Spirit of Manchester Awards in 2018. Our volunteers continue to be instrumental to the success of the centre, by carrying out a range of different roles and tasks at the centre and always provide a warm welcome and friendly face to visitors to the building.

    Thank you to:

    • Anthony Annison

    • Estelita Avilez

    • Jonny Butcher

    • Sheilee Cherry

    • Tanya Daly

    • Julie Gallagher

    • Charlotte Hardman

    • Sheila Lindley

    • David Mitchell

    • Glennis Mitchell

     

  • Digital Champions

    These volunteers help our tenants to use computers and tablets and to get online, and also assist our Digital Inclusion Officer at events.

    Special thanks to:

    • Kevin Moores

    • Mato Niang

    • Elaine Okoro

     

  • Complaints Service Improvement Group

    This group reviews some of our complaints to ensure we are meeting our targets and providing efficient responses, so that we can learn from previous mistakes.

    Our thanks go to:

    • Ruth Emmerson

    • Jim Hutton

    • Liam Murphy

    • Maggie Walker

     

  • Timebank Volunteers

    These volunteers regularly help with our monthly events, and ensure that Timebank continues to be a fantastic way to share skills and meet new people.

    Special thanks to:

    • Estelita Avilez

    • Yvonne Coyle

    • Elma Crolla

    • Elaine Cross

    • Robert Dolan

    • Christopher Gale

    • Simon Hickey

    • Caroline Kerr

    • Glennis Mitchell

    • Kevin Moores

    • Maria Morrison

    • Naseem Pervez

    • Glenys Richards

    • Doreen Robinson

    • Sheila Taylor Smith

    • Maggie Walker

     

  • Peer Support Network (at Old Moat)

    This group is run by older people who are trained Community Organisers. They have helped Southway to reach isolated older people and run some highly successful activities, including their world famous lunch club.

    Our thanks go to:

    • Don Berry

    • Atika Bobat

    • David Barrow

    • Elma Crolla

    • Elaine Cross

    • Bob Dolan

    • Velice Duggan

    • Agnes German

    • Margaret Kirwan

    • Irene Kochanski

    • Kevin Moores

    • Derek Taylor

    • Tommy Walsh

     

  • The Age-Friendly Burnage Partnership

    This partnership brings together older people and local organisations, so they can work together to make a neighbourhood more age-friendly.

    Thank you to:

    • Jamil Abulkader

    • Estelita Avilez

    • John Clegg

    • Pam Coleman

    • Nina Cookson

    • Margaret Greenhalgh

    • Patricia Holden

    • Simon Katzenellenbogen

    • Patrick McGuiness

    • David Mitchell

    • Glennis Mitchell

    • Sue Ramsden

    • Maggie Walker

    • Janet Wilson

     

  • Beautiful South Fund Decision-Making Panel

    A group of volunteers have recently formed the Beautiful South Fund Decision Making Panel and will consider all the applications received, with some support from Southway staff. The theme of the Fund is ‘neighbourliness’ and each application must meet that criteria.

    Special thanks to:

    • Jean Ashbee

    • Najwa Hafid

    • Glennis Mitchell

    • Carol Haney

    • Sue Ramsden

     

Special Recognition Awards

We also took this event as an opportunity to recognise volunteers who have gone above and beyond to support Southway and the local community.

Click on the tabs to see which volunteers received Special Recognition Awards, and how they have made a profound, positive impact on their local community.  

  • Holly Jones

    Holly has shown real commitment to the West Didsbury Estate Community Group from day one. Despite having no former experience, Holly embraced volunteering with tenacity and enthusiasm, and has become a real asset within the group. Holly dedicates a lot of time and effort to improving the local neighbourhood, and we are thankful for Holly’s continuous hard work.

  • Merseybank Quids in Team

    Merseybank’s ‘Quids in’ club was the first of its kind to open, and the volunteers have been involved from day one. They even open the club during Christmas week. Their dedication has made a profound difference to the lives of many in their community and beyond.

  • Bobby Dolan

    Bobby joined the Timebank in April 2013, and has given hundreds of hours of his time to helping others. More recently, Bobby has shared his fantastic DIY skills with many others at the ‘Men in Sheds’ project, and has become an invaluable member of the Peer Support Network. We are so grateful to Bobby, for his collaborative spirit and his dedication for bringing his community together.

  • Barlow Hall Neighbourhood Group

    The committee of this group have contributed greatly to improving the local area. Their efforts include organising ‘Speed Watch’ sessions, within their Speed Awareness Campaign, and their collaboration with a number of other organisations to achieve a Green Flag Award for the green spaces in the area. They have also contributed to turning a landlocked site into a safe and inviting space for residents and local schools. They are truly dedicated.

  • Dgany El Nar

    Dgany is a committed and enthusiastic ‘Quids in’ and Learning Hub volunteer. Her contributions include ensuring the place is clean and tidy, to translating English and Arabic and everything in between. Dgany has received countless compliments from staff, other volunteers and service users who recognise their dedication and positive attitude. She has helped dozens of Southway tenants and local residents, providing excellent customer care with compassion.

  • Pam Coleman

    Pam has devoted much of her time to running a social group for older people who have experienced loss, so they can adjust to their life changes in a safe space. Pam runs the group by herself, with only a small budget, and organises fundraising events to maintain the group, so it can continue to benefit the community. Pam is also a Board member of a local project and has been pivotal in supporting the aims of the project. In August 2018, Pam delivered an exceptional and praiseworthy presentation at the launch of the project’s Action Plan.

  • Tanya Daly

    Tanya has contributed hugely in delivering and developing the ‘Quids in’ project, the weekly ‘Eat, Meet and Greet’ sessions, and in supporting the delivery of numerous events and activities throughout the year. Tanya has spent countless hours talking to service users, providing support, a smile and a sympathetic ear. Her empathy, understanding, great sense of humour and knowledge are an asset to the team, and all at Westcroft Community Centre love her for that.

  • Derek Taylor

    Derek has been a volunteer for Southway since 2012. He began as an Age Friendly Champion and supported the development of Old Moat as an Age Friendly neighbourhood. More recently, Derek has been a key volunteer in the development of the Old Moat Peer Support Network. Derek is always cheerful, helpful and willing to give his time to support Southway and their neighbourhood. His “Top 10 Tips to Avoid Loneliness” went viral when the BBC interviewed him, and garnered over a million views on social media. We are hugely grateful for Derek’s dedication to improving his community and his unwavering positive outlook.

  • Jean Holt

    Jean is involved in a local tenant group, the Residents’ Consultative Group and Tenant Scrutiny Panel and is fully committed to bringing her everything to each group. She is, reliable, trustworthy and always ready to help.