League of Mercy Awards - 12th July 2024

Mrs Sally Davies - League of Friends of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Sally is now in her 17th year as an Executive Board Member of the League of Friends in Shrewsbury. After retiring from 38 years in the NHS, Mrs Davies was unanimously voted onto the Board. She quickly became well known for bringing her innovative ideas for fundraising into fruition via hundreds of her excellent events. The League of Friends has now raised an incredible £23.7 million; over £515,000 of which has been gained during the last two years. This is testament to her committment, natural charisma, enthusiasm, caring manner and team playing way of working. There are four shops on the site, and Mrs Davies volunteers to work a weekly shift in one of them in order to enthuse the other volunteers. Events are held at various venues around the county; including wine tastings, afternoon teas, tennis tournaments and lunches with guest speakers. the committee has some wonderful cooks and gardeners who help, with Mrs Davies's guidance, to put on fun events and raise a great deal of money for the League of Friends. She also gives lunches for the NSPCC and is the national Editor of the Women in Fellowship magazine.

Mrs Iona Edwards - League of Friends of the District General Hospital, North Wales

Mrs Edwards started volunteering 30 years ago for the League of Friends of the District General Hospital in Bodelwyddan, North Wales. She started her duties as a regular volunteer working full-time in the tea bar and shop. Her invaluable experience and knowledge has steered the League to greater heights. Between 2015 and 2019 the League was able to raise over £1.4 million and this money was given back to the hospital in the form of equipment. Mrs Edwards became a member of the general committee and was asked to become a Trustee for the League of Friends, becoming its Chair from 2008 to 2010 and 2012 to 2018. In 2011 the hospital went through major structural work to modernise its facilities. She was a key part of this change, whcih continued for seven years, particularly to steer the alterations to her tea bar and shop. Her calm, professional manner guided the League through this period, building it back once again into an integral part of hospital llife. Mrs Edwards is extremely dedicated, always thinking of others and putting the League before any other commitment in her life. in 2023 she became Honorary Vice President and continues to assist the day to day running of the hospital via her support to its League of Friends.

Ms Jan O'Neill - Guild of the Royal Hospital of St Bartholomew, London

Jan joined the Guild as a volunteer 14 years ago, having retired from journalism and then went on to become a Trustee later that year, becoming fully involved in running the activities of The Guild. Her literary and promotional abilities, organisational skills, theatrical experience and teaching have been the cornerstone of many fundraising events, which bring joy to patients, families, staff and supporters, and raise much-needed funds. Ms O'Neill's particular concentration has been the annual Christmas concerts; from idea to promotion to production, she either runs or does each stage herself. Fortunately because of her journalistic skills, she has been able to develop and run the twice-yearly Barts Guild News. For this publication, Ms O'Neill is the researcher, the content writer, cajoler of others to contribute, layout artist, publisher, proof reader and printer. This small professional magazine notifies the whole community of among other things, all the fundraising events that are set to take place. Apart from The Guild, and despite her many bouts of ill health, she gives a day a week to the Barts Macmillan Cancer Centre, where her commitment, kindness, compassion and good natured charm, are very evident and of great help to patients and families. Ms O'Neill has recently joined the Guild Committee, dedicated to looking after the Princess Alice Garden, which is a lovely place for patients and staff to visit, for peace and calm in the beautiful surroundings.

Mrs Jean Prior - League of Friends for Bridgenorth Hospital

Jean has been involved in the League for over 25 years. In addition to volunteering, she is a trustee on both the main and coffee shop committees. As a coffee shop volunteer, she undertakes shifts on a weekly basis and was until the pandemic, one of the volunteers performing a trolley-round of the hospital ward. Mrs Prior was one of the original volunteers helping run the bi-monthly Butterfly Cafe, for people living with dementia and their carers, when the cafe was run in the League's shop as part of a hospital initiative. The League of Friends took over this initiative in 2021. Knowing the power of a cup of tea, slice of cake and a chat, she undertook dementia awareness and safeguarding training in order that she could attend every session. She is one of the organisers of the League's "Knit and Natter Club", which knits baby and toddler clothes and other items. these are then sold to raise funds. They also knit items such as poppies, which are handed out to staff and patients for Remembrance Weekend. Mrs Prior is a stalwart of all rundraising events and is always one of the first to offer to assist with anything such as standing on a high street on a cold winter's day selling Christmas cards, or wrapping and delivering presents to inpatients at Easter and Christmas time. Mrs Prior regularly attends committee meetings at the hospital where she is held in very high esteem.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE ONE OF YOUR VOLUNTEERS PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR THE NOMINATION FORM  http://leagueofmercy.co.uk/nominate/. NOMINATIONS FOR 2025 NEED TO BE WITH THE LEAGUE OF MERCY BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2025