Oldham dementia volunteer wins charity Newcomer of the Year award

Jane Vernon, 22, was named Newcomer of the Year at our Making Space Colleague Awards.

She was recognised for her work with the Oldham Dementia Service and the “huge achievements” she has made with her own skills and confidence.

Jane was presented with a certificate and trophy by Andy Grant - a motivational speaker, Iraq and Afghanistan veteran and the world’s fastest single leg amputee in the world over 10KM - at an award ceremony at the Manchester Mercure Hotel.

“I love volunteering with the Oldham Dementia Service because I spent a lot of time caring for my grandma, who also had dementia,” says Jane. “I feel it’s something that I can do well, and I want to be able to help others in the same situation. Eventually I’d like to work in a care home and give something back to the people who have helped me.

“I was really shocked when they called my name out for the award. I knew I’d been nominated but wasn’t expecting to win. I went bright red and couldn’t even say anything when I collected the award, I was so surprised. I’d also lost my other grandma just two months before the ceremony, so it was a very emotional day for me.”

Jane, who has learning disabilities, began volunteering with the Oldham Dementia Service at the suggestion of Specialist Education Department at Oldham College, where she was undertaking an internship in Health and Social Care.

After initially attending the dementia sessions with her own support worker, Jane now volunteers for the service alone thanks to progress she’s made in developing her skills and confidence.

Annette Murray, a dementia adviser with Making Space, nominated Jane for the award.

“When she first came to us, Jane was painfully shy and lacked confidence,” says Annette.

“Now, she couldn’t be more different. Jane has embraced learning about dementia and the impact it can have. She’s really pushed herself out of her comfort zone, happily engages on a one-to-one basis with our service users and is a valued member of our team. She is kind, thoughtful, considerate and has a heart of gold.”

Over 250 people were nominated for the Making Space awards, with three individuals or teams shortlisted for each award. The judges – external assessor Corinne Wainwright, and Alison Everett from Skills for Care - praised Jane for overcoming her own shyness to help others.

“Jane has worked very hard to develop her skills and confidence and has become a valuable member of the Oldham Dementia Service team,” they said. “She is an inspiring young lady who is equally loved by colleagues and service users alike.”

The inaugural Making Space Colleague Awards have been established to recognise and pay tribute to individuals and teams who inspire others, go above and beyond expectations and make a real difference to the lives of the people we support.

Jane has also been shortlisted for second national award. She is on the shortlist for the Inspirational Volunteer Award at the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards (WAGS).

The Inspirational Volunteer category “celebrates inspirational women for their impactful volunteer work in the sector, either at grassroots or a national level.”

“I was amazed that I was nominated for awards for doing something that I love, and that I want to make a career out of,” says Jane. “To find out that I’ve been shortlisted for another national award so soon after winning the award from Making Space is overwhelming, I can’t believe it’s true!”

The WAGS recognise accomplishments at all levels of leadership and from across the whole of the social care sector, including services for older people, people with learning disabilities or autism, and children, young people and families.

Jane will find out if she’s the overall winner of the award at a celebrity-hosted black tie gala reception in London in November.