Laura-May Smith – Unsung Hero Awards

Nomination

Award Category:

Volunteer of the year

Individual or Team Nomination?

Individual

Qualifying Qualities

In these challenging times, nominators were asked to show how the nominee had demonstrated the following qualities:

Exceptional work ethic - going above and beyond their job description, especially in the past 12 months.
Outstanding achievement/s in work or outside of the organisation where relevant.
Drive for innovation and proactive leadership in these challenging times.
High level of interpersonal skills, such as kindness, empathy, loyalty and thoughtfulness to staff and patients.
A resilience considering Covid to their role and to the health and wellbeing of their colleagues.

Nominators Answer

Nominee's story :

Laura approached Voluntary Services at KMPT and was recruited as a volunteer in October 2019. It was clear on first meeting that Laura was extremely hard working and diligent but, moreover, expressed a deep understanding of mental health that was beyond her age of 20 years and life experience. Laura was an undergraduate student at Kent University studying Psychology with a keen interest to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology. Laura volunteered with people living with dementia (LWD) and supported a local Kent group with administration tasks but went on to be an integral member of that group involved in projects and supporting activities of the group. In addition, Laura supported the Living Well With dementia Courses run by KMPT and it became apparent how capable and skilled Laura is and what an impact she made to the people she worked with; those LWD, their families and carers, professionals, and other volunteers. When the pandemic hit, the Voluntary Services world was turned upside down and our service users LWD and their families became isolated and alone. Like many students, Laura was forced to leave her University town of Canterbury, back to her family. Incredibly, Laura was undeterred in her enthusiasm and compassion and continued her volunteer work remotely as a Telephone Befriender and as an IT Buddy, supporting those LWD and their families during the lockdowns to access therapy on line, to make social contact with family and friends via zoom, use email, shop on the internet, facetime or use social media for connections with others and the outside world. She did all this remotely and supported many service users in our trust. Laura was asked to befriend a gentleman living with dementia, Peter (not his real name). He needed support with his social isolation and his connections with family and friends. Laura and Peter and Peter's wife soon developed a close working relationship. Laura helped Peter to see his friends and family on zoom and he became an avid Amazon shopper! Laura telephoned every week and Peter and his wife looked forward to seeing her on a screen and sharing stories of their week. Laura supported Peter and his wife way beyond her work as a volunteer and made a significant impact upon Peter's life until his sad death of Covid related illness in March this year. Remarkably and sadly, Laura and Peter never met face to face apart from on a screen but the success of their relationship is credit to this remarkable young person. Outside of this work, Laura has become a lead volunteer IT buddy and supports new volunteers doing similar work. Laura is part of a working party of professionals, students and people LWD engaged in a research project into Covid and dementia and plays a lead role in interviewing and all aspects of the project. It is a privilege to have met and work with Laura, she is a truly exceptional young person; kind, compassionate, professional, a learner and a teacher, outstanding in all she does.