THE COMMUNITY Project of the Year sponsored by Blandy & Blandy Solicitors went to Helping Hands Shinfield & Spencers Wood at the inaugural Wokingham Community Awards.
Set up during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisation has helped those experiencing hardship when everyone was being tested to their limits. Whether it be sourcing baby clothes for young parents or organising SHARE Shinfield’s food surplus project, the Helping Hand team serves its community with open arms and a smile.
Organisers Sarah O’Neill and Rachel Walker have built up a committed group of volunteers, each of whom offer their own expertise and approach to the organisation’s activities.
On receiving the award, Rachel said: “It’s humbling. I know it’s a cliche, but it is very humbling. To be recognised in a category with so many other people who do such wonderful things in the community is honestly humbling.
“It makes you want to keep digging deeper and help those people who literally have nothing on the table, who don’t have a shirt on their back.”
Sarah added: “It’s really lovely to see people you’re working together with at the awards, SHARE Wokingham, First Days, all these amazing organisations.
“At Helping Hand, there are so many unique volunteers with unique skills, that’s what makes it really special. Members of the community have been so helpful too, helping out when we put requests out on social media – we’ve basically become a platform for people to love their neighbour.”
The pair said that only this week the group had received a request for a wheelchair from a member of the community who had learned about the organisation through word of mouth. Through the power of social media, Helping Hand is able to help with requests like this, with residents happy to help more often than not.
Shinfield and Spencers Wood have experienced mass development as a result of the South of the M4 SDL, and groups such as Rachel and Sarah’s have played a key role in helping newcomers feel at home in the area.
Of the group, the awards’ host Graeme Hobbs said: “What is very special is that through volunteering opportunities they’ve been able to help individuals turn their lives around by giving purpose, friendship and community.”
