Matthew Norton is the Community Engagement Officer for Lloyds Banking Group.  He was nominated for the award by staff at Home-Start Calderdale.  Linda Glew, manager at the Halifax-based charity, said, “We, and Yorkshire, are privileged to have Matthew.  He first came to talk to us about how Lloyds staff could use their Make A Difference Day to help local families and children. We made suggestions like: plan and facilitate our family day at a local park. He arranged that and it has been happening annually ever since. This year will be our 4th and the event is always a huge success.

Matthew takes the news of his win with great calmness. See how, and hear from staff at Home-Start Calderdale about the difference he made to their work with families: 

Linda continues to praise Matthew, “We then asked for help with our Christmas party. He organised a team to be Santa and elves, play games with the children and decorate the party room with Christmas trees and lights… this has also happened every year since.

“We had a huge amount of donated clothes, toys and equipment and were running out of storage space. Matthew arranged for volunteers from Lloyds to run two market stalls in an "Apprentice Style" competition – to see which team could raise the most money selling them. And then he organised match funding from Lloyds. This meant money was raised as well as much profile raising at a local market - priceless!

“When we asked Matthew if he knew of any Lloyds employees who could facilitate a team away day for all staff and trustees, he organised that too and we are about to plan our third very successful, strategic planning day with the same team from Lloyds who now feel like part of our charity.  

“None of this was enough for Matthew though - he kept asking what more they could do. He came up with the idea that a team of Lloyds volunteers could conduct home makeovers on our families' homes. He project managed an army of volunteers so three families’ homes were made over in one day! This was a crazy day but we had lots of very happy faces of Calderdale children whose bedrooms were transformed! Those makeovers still happen here several times every year and Home-Start UK have since championed this across the country.

“Matthew is a wonderful man whose heart is one of the biggest you will find. He has huge capacity for caring.  He is truly selfless and works tirelessly for the benefit of others. He truly deserves some recognition for all of his hard work!”

Before the awards ceremony, Matthew and the winners of the other Home-Start national volunteer award categories were treated to a pamper afternoon, courtesy of The White Rose School of Health and Beauty, and afternoon tea with Kirstie Allsopp.