Local volunteer receives Rose of Northamptonshire Award
Marcia Holder, a client and volunteer at NAB – Sight Support for Northamptonshire, received recognition last week for her amazing efforts in supporting and connecting her local sight loss community.
NAB were honoured to welcome Morcea Walker MBE DL, who gave a heartfelt speech about the importance of people like Marcia in our community before presenting the award.
NAB are a Northamptonshire charity that help visually impaired people live life to the full through a variety of services including home visits and social events. Marcia first came into contact with the charity when she began to lose her sight in 2011. After adapting to her new circumstances, she quickly sought out opportunities to help people in a similar situation.
With first-hand experience of the many practical challenges and emotional struggles that occur when living with sight loss, Marcia was well suited to supporting people through what can be an incredibly difficult time.
She began volunteering as a home befriender, and has gone on to support computer groups, distribute the charity newsletter, and now runs the Social Group for visually impaired individuals in Wellingborough.
Thanks to Marcia's dedication, the Wellingborough group has gone from strength to strength, acting as a social hub for people at any stage of their sight loss journey. Loneliness and Isolation is common in the visually impaired community and Marcia has worked tirelessly to prevent this in her local area.
Because of the incredible work she does, Marcia was nominated for the Rose of Northamptonshire Award, which is given by the Northamptonshire Community Foundation. The award recognises the county’s community heroes who go above and beyond to support others, which Marcia certainly does!
To ensure Marcia could celebrate the award with the people who she has dedicated so much time to helping, NAB invited the Social Group to their office in Moulton Park. Here they enjoyed an afternoon tea with Marcia before she was presented with her award.
It was truly a joyful occasion which highlighted the importance and dedication of volunteers who help NAB and so many other charities to make a positive impact in Northamptonshire.
If you are struggling with sight loss, or would like to become a volunteer with NAB, please call 01604 719 193.