A TEAM of staff from Scottish Widows in the Isle of Man has won a major award from the Lloyds Banking Group for its volunteer work.
The Scottish Widows “Book Buddies” team of volunteers, who work with four primary schools to help with reading skills, won one of only two gold category awards presented within the entire Lloyds network.
The award also came with a £500 donation from the banking group to the team’s nominated Manx-registered charity, Wish upon a Dream.
“Book Buddies” is a group of volunteers who work with four schools - Ballaquayle Infants’ School, Ballacloan Infants’ School, Kirk Michael Primary School and Willaston Primary School, to provide one-to-one reading support to pupils.
“Book Buddies” also volunteer at a range of literacy-themed activities at the Henry Bloom Noble Library, principally the Summer Reading Challenge, a scheme aimed at promoting reading for pleasure among young children and sponsored by Scottish Widows for the past four years.
The team’s achievements prompted the judging panel to comment that their volunteering ‘supported a great cause with long-term commitment, good engagement of others and real impact’.
At the Lloyds Banking Group’s Making a Difference awards lunch held at its Gresham Street, London headquarters Scottish Widows’ personal portfolio and investments manager Juan Clarke and colleague Fritha Collister-Caine, who are part of the 150-strong Isle of Man-based workforce, received the award on behalf of the team from TV journalist and businessman Martyn Lewis, chairman of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
Mr Lewis said businesses had an important role in supporting their employees to engage with the voluntary sector, adding: ‘Meeting people who do far more than you would think possible to help others is always inspiring.’
Mr Clarke, who spearheaded the “Book Buddies” scheme that began at his former primary school, Ballaquayle, said, “I was delighted to be accompanied by Fritha as she is the longest-serving member of Book Buddies, a dedicated group of people who give so generously of their time to help young people discover the pleasure of the written word.
“The award also demonstrates the value of the association Scottish Widows has forged with Douglas Borough Council, specifically the Henry Bloom Noble Library.
“I congratulate everyone involved in securing this tremendous award which we were pleased to accept on behalf of all those colleagues across our Isle of Man operation who are passionate about volunteering for worthwhile causes.
“In the process colleagues are also demonstrating the importance Scottish Widows and, indirectly, the Lloyds Bank Group place on engaging with local communities and really making a difference.”
