A Bangor woman has been recognised for her long-term volunteering role with NSPCC Northern Ireland.
Barbara Walker has been made an honorary member of the NSPCC council.
She was presented with her award at a ceremony in Belfast recently.
Barbara been involved with the leading children’s charity since 2006.
Since then she has devoted her time to the charity’s Young Witness Service and its North Down Fundraising Committee.
Barbara said she was absolutely delighted to receive the accolade.
“I started volunteering to help children, not for awards. Before I retired, I was a teacher and YWS is still very much in my area as I am continuing to help children,” she added.
Barbara initially joined the NSPCC’s North Down Fundraising Committee and has been an active member of the group ever since, holding the position of committee chairman since 2007.
The retired teacher and school vice principal, has also been a member of the NSPCC’s Northern Ireland Regional Forum since 2010.
Barbara’s role with the Young Witness Service is to support children and young people who are giving evidence in court.
The Young Witness Service provides support for hundreds of children and young people under the age of 18 who have to go through the often-traumatic process of giving evidence in court.
Volunteering for Young Witness can be difficult for volunteers as details of the case and the evidence emerges and it also involves a substantial time commitment as court cases can take many days or even weeks and are frequently delayed.
Despite this Barbara has supported a range of young people in complex Crown Court cases as well as Magistrates and Youth Court cases.
Barbara supports children and their families in Laganside Courts in Belfast as well as Newtownards and Downpatrick Court and has supported over 60 cases over the past three years alone.
Billy Eagleson, volunteer co-ordinator with the YWS said Barbara is a very well-liked and respected member of the YWS volunteer team.
“She is generous with both her time and expertise both in terms of supporting the children and their families but also in supporting less experienced volunteers who are new to the role,” he said.
Catherine Nuttall, head of fundraising at NSPCC Northern Ireland said she was delighted that Barbara has received this award from in recognition of her volunteering and the fundraising she has developed in the North Down area.
She said the NSPCC depends on voluntary donations for almost 90% of its income.
For more information on volunteering with the NSPCC’s Young Witness Service or any of our fundraising committees go to: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do/volunteering-nspcc-childline/