Bishop Auckland Stoma Care Group has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The award is the highest a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities.
It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and, following his accession, His Majesty The King emphasised his desire to continue the Award.
Bishop Auckland Stoma Care Group was founded in 1983 by Clinical Stoma Nurse Specialist Sister Barbara Hodgson (now retired).
Her vision was realised when she was joined by the late Vera Bradford (a member of the “Fighting Bradford’s” family) and Mrs Betty Towns to set up a group to provide emotional, physical and spiritual support to ostomates, their friends and carers.
Meeting every two weeks, the group soon grew and enjoyed relevant health and lifestyle speakers.
It offers a supportive environment to encourage adjusting to life with a stoma, giving the opportunity to seek advice on various topics.
The group also enjoys social events and nights away, which help members to build their confidence in an understanding and safe environment.
Over the years the group has developed an identity and ethos which embraces education of medical students regarding the psychological impact of a stoma.
Students also learn how to support and encourage patients to live full and meaningful lives despite adjusting physically and psychologically to what is now accepted as a “hidden disability”.
They also learn how to support the fear and stigmatisation felt by new patients facing major traumatic life-saving surgery.
When Sister Barbara retired, the group became patient led and latterly have been supported by their local stoma care nurses pre- and post-surgery, in the hospital and community environments.
The members have worked over the years with the Stoma Nurses and have provided feedback on any service improvements or ideas they may have to maintain a high-level clinical service.
Bishop Auckland Stoma Care Group is one of 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.
Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.
Recipients are announced annually on the King’s birthday in November.
Award-winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a social network for disabled adults in Banffshire, Scotland; a charity using a refurbished pool as a community hub in South Wales; volunteer doctors providing pre-hospital care across rural Cumbria and a village renewal organisation promoting sustainability, equality and social inclusion in County Antrim.
Representatives of the Bishop Auckland Stoma Care Group received their Award Crystal and Certificate from H M Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham Mrs Sue Snowdon.
In addition, two volunteers from the Bishop Auckland Stoma Care Group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2024, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Sister Barbara continues to be devoted to the group and its members, despite her retirement, together with Mrs Maureen Davison, Mrs Betty Walker and Ms Mary Schmidt – who have been dedicated, loyal and committed group members and organisers for many years.
They said how honoured and delighted they were that the local Stoma Care Group has been recognised by this award and expressed their gratitude to the current members who continue to enjoy fraternity and support the group in its on-going endeavours to meet the various challenges which affect us all nowadays.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
