A DEDICATED Redditch volunteer has been named Home-Start UK’s Volunteer of the Year for her unwavering support for families in the town.
Helen Sharp, who volunteers for family support charity Home-Start North East Worcestershire, received the award for her extraordinary dedication to supporting families.
Over the years, Helen has helped more than 30 families through home visits, providing stability, comfort, and advocacy when they needed it most.
She has also been a tireless champion for Home-Start, securing funding, writing to newspapers, and lobbying MPs to ensure support for local families continued.
Deb McCammon, senior coordinator at Home-Start North East Worcestershire, praised her as a ‘real-life Mary Poppins’.
She said: “Helen is a constant champion for our local Home Start.
“Families need a sense of safety in the community they are living in.
“Arriving each week at the same time and on the same day is the building block for this trust.
“Numerous families she has supported have benefited from it over the years.”
Helen said: “I’ve really enjoyed my years with Home-Start. It is a charity which values its volunteers as much as the families they support.
“Much of my time spent with families has been helping with multiple births, disabled children, cooking, and simply taking children to the park.
“These are small tasks we often take for granted, but they mean the world to the families we support.”
The Home-Start UK Volunteer Awards, honoured those whose remarkable efforts have transformed family lives.
Held at the RAC Club in London and hosted by TV personality and long-standing Home-Start ambassador Kirstie Allsopp, the awards celebrated powerful examples of Home-Start’s support for families in communities across the UK.
After hosting the event, Kirstie said: “It’s been an absolute joy to come together and celebrate the incredible work of Home-Start’s volunteers.
“They are the lifeblood of this wonderful charity, bringing warmth, empathy, and unwavering support to families when they need it most.
“This year’s winners embody everything Home-Start stands for kindness, commitment, and a genuine sense of community.
“It’s been wonderful to honour them, along with all the amazing volunteers across the UK who make a real difference every single day.”
