Rotherham Families First Volunteer Celebration Event
On Friday 5th December, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting our Volunteers Celebration Night at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
This was an evening dedicated to the amazing people who make Rotherham Families First what it is.
With no paid staff and thousands of bags of donations coming through our doors every year, our work simply wouldn’t be possible without the small but mighty team of volunteers who give their time, energy, and hearts to support local families in need.
And last night, we finally got to shine the spotlight on them.
Honouring the Heart of Our Charity
From sorting mountains of clothing and baby essentials, to checking toys, preparing orders, unloading cars, organising the warehouse, and running our annual Christmas Toy Appeal – our volunteers are at the core of everything we do.
Each volunteer was celebrated individually for their unique contributions, personalities, and unforgettable quirks. We laughed, we clapped, and in some cases, we nearly cried (looking at you Jess!) especially when we heard stories of those families we have supported in 2025.
We shared memories, funny stories, and a whole lot of appreciation. From pink hair to sour sweets, lost jigsaw pieces to caps that never come off, the room was full of the personality that makes our team so special.
So here’s a look at some of our wonderful volunteers here at Rotherham Families First.
Sue is our rock and a proper hard worker. She sorts the bedding, organises the men’s clothing, and keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
She is dependable, dedicated, and the person we can always count on to get the job done. She supports other volunteers, shares her knowledge generously, and constantly reminds us why we do this work.
And while she’s not the biggest Christmas fan, she dresses the giving trees we have at Parkgate and keeps the resources side running while the elves are in Santa’s workshop.
We’re so lucky to have Sue as part of our team—when she’s here and not off on one of her cruises!
Aerin’s got a smile that lights up the room and she’s become an invaluable part of the team.
She’s one of our key clothing checkers, the person who carefully goes through every item to make sure it’s good quality, free from marks or holes, and ready to be passed on with dignity. It’s precise, important work, and she does it with real care and attention – she even gives Ann a run for her money.
Aerin is currently in her final year of college studying beauty therapy, and she has left a big mark on our team – quite literally for some of us! She once waxed Ann and Jenny’s legs and did their nails.
We know she’ll shine in her career but their gain will truly be our loss.
Isaac has You become a big part of our team and what a difference he brings to Rotherham Families First.
He’s grown so much over the last 18 months, starting with coming one half day a week to now two half days which has given him more responsibility.
Now he helps people who are donating by going to their cars and helping them in with the bags, speaking and greeting people, and helping with the sorting and packing.
All that can sometimes seem a bit boring but it’s a very important part of what has to be done and he does it very well, always ready to do anything that will help us run a smooth ship.
Dean is our go-to volunteer for all things toys. He carefully checks each donated toy to make sure it’s complete, that batteries work, jigsaw pieces are all there, and everything is safe and ready to give out to the children we support.
When he first joined, he was very shy and it’s hard to believe this is the same Dean from a year ago. He’s come so far and it’s been wonderful to see his confidence grow.
He’s softly spoken, but his contribution is loud. His caring nature, humour, and smile bring warmth and laughter to our team and he’s always ready to help and join in the fun.
Sharna is another one of our toy sorters, but she’s done such a good job that we’ve given her more responsibility of overseeing all the baby items. She does it with real care and her love for babies really shines through.
She’s become such an important part of our team, always showing up – rain or shine – to make sure the toys are safe and organised. It’s wonderful to hear her laughing and see her joining in with everyone, and she’s always offering out her sour sweets which the volunteers love, well everyone except Ann.
This year, she’s been putting her toy-sorting skills to good use by joining the toy appeal and she’s been a great help in the grotto.
Jess joined us in January and has already made a huge difference. She’s always happy to help in any way she can, bringing energy, wit, and incredible organisation to everything she does. We truly notice (and miss) her when she’s not here – and that’s not just because of that fabulous pink hair!
She’s the type of person that makes things happen and she just gets on with it, throwing herself into any task she can because she loves to know her efforts are helping others. Even when things get tough, Jess’s commitment inspires all of us.
She’s got a smile that lights up the room and we feel so lucky to have her as part of our Rotherham Families First family.
Ann is one of our newer volunteers, helping on Thursdays, and she’s quickly become an invaluable member of our team.
She’s a real team player who truly cares and gets on with whatever task she’s given.
She started as a Christmas elf last year, and now she keeps everything tidy, sorts donations, and makes sure all items are in the correct places.
Ann also helps make up orders for families, though sometimes she can’t resist putting a little extra in, just to make sure they have everything they need! But that’s only because she’s such a caring person.
Anita joined us this year and has become an essential part of the Thursday team – though she probably didn’t know what madness she’d let herself in for.
She helps with a whole host of tasks and never complains – always cheerful, always reliable, and always ready to roll up her sleeves.
Claire helps solely with the Christmas Toy Appeal every year, carefully sorting through donations and making sure every child receives a gift they’ve asked for.
She is caring, cheerful, and always full of warmth, giving every gift the love and attention it deserves, even when the cold tries to slow us down!
Everybody loves Claire – she’s full of sunshine. Her laughter and energy light up the room and spread joy to everyone around her.
Christmas simply wouldn’t be the same without her.
We don’t see enough of Pat but when she is an elf she can pick, sort and get a gift ready knowing that gift will make a big difference to a child or young person. We are definitely lucky to have her.
She is always ready to help families in their time of need, never running away from difficult situations going head on until things are right for the family. She truly does care for the families she has supported over the years.
The special Charlotte has been designing, making and selling her Christmas cards since she was 10. Every penny she raises she uses to buy gifts for the toy appeal and over the years she has raised over £2,200 for us. What a wonder and what a future she is going to have. She is an inspiration to us all.
She couldn’t do it without her mum, Claire, of course, who supports her in every way she can from ferrying her around to running her Facebook page. Together they are great supporters and advocates for Rotherham Families First.
What a formidable person Karen is, trustworthy and so eager to learn and help with anything and you can. She gets any job asked of her done or uses her initiative to see what needs doing.
She goes beyond being a volunteer, giving time at home and even letting Ann go on holiday by taking the phone – which never stops, even answering the silliest questions you can think of.
She greets people donating and even if they don’t want to look around she show them anyway. Glowing when mentioning what we do, how proud she is to be with us.
Rachel lights up the room, with her soft-spoken attitude that makes people listen without saying much. We fall at her every word.
Hard work gets her through and her commitment is forever there, even when she is unable to come.
The King’s Award is for the life of Rotherham Families First. Who could be trusted to keep this place going but Rachel.
She started as an elf but decided, especially when we were in lockdown, that she needed company, and that she really ‘did’ like us. So, she became a regular volunteer.
And what a volunteer she has made, giving time at home washing teddies – the neighbours call her mad teddy woman with rows of teddies on the washing line – writing slips, taking cash for clothes, and doing our much-needed shopping for us.
Writing slips for the Christmas toy appeal even with her old arthritic fingers, always remembering to tell us how old she is. Especially when hoarding boxes – the bain of Ann’s life!
She’s always there for any volunteer that may need help, with a smile she does her best, which is the very best.
Celebrating Our Year-Round Impact
This year, the need in our community continued to grow, and so did our volunteers’ response. From restocking shelves to preparing special requests, their hard work ensured that no family went without essential items.
A new website and a growing presence on social media has seen our charity’s name spread further in the community, too. With that has been an influx of donations from the public.
The unit has been busy and filled to the rafters with donations, and thankfully work has recently begun to get it more organised to help things go smoother. It’s exciting to see it all coming together after years of upheaval but it’s a sign of bigger and better things to come.
And of course 2025 was a special year for us all as it was the year we officially received our King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Ann and Jenny were honoured to get their thanks by going to Buckingham Palace which what an amazing day and a lifelong memory.
To every volunteer – whether you help every week, every Christmas, or anywhere in between – thank you.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for caring.
Thank you for making Rotherham Families First a place of hope for so many.
Here’s to another year of helping families, spreading joy, and doing good together.
We couldn’t do any of it without you.