Umber were excited to be asked back to sponsor the Time2Volunteer awards for 2024, having sponsored the event since its launch in 2022.
The Time2Volunteer awards take place every year to celebrate local volunteers and the amazing work they do across Hull and East Yorkshire. This year, the award ceremony took place at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Hull on the 3rd October 2024, and was hosted by HEY Smile Foundation, Hull CVS, Making a Difference Locally (MADL), East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hull City Council.
Volunteers are the heartbeat of every thriving charity, voluntary organisation and wider community. They give their time, dedication and talents for the collective good, creating waves of positive change. These awards provide an opportunity to shine a light on and say thank you to some incredible people, as well as recognising and celebrating the wider role and contribution of all volunteers across our region.
We were proud to sponsor the 'Behind the Scenes' Award as it reflects so much of what we do daily. When any creative solution is built well, it looks easy, and our work often goes unnoticed - but when someone appreciates the effort, it fuels our passion and keeps us striving for more. These volunteers work quietly in the background but keep groups and charities going. They don’t make a song and dance about their volunteering.
Nominated for the award this year was Jacob Birch for his work with Scouts, Sue Mellors for her work with Age UK and Phil Bean for his work with Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University. Ultimately Jacob Birch won the award, though all three were very deserving nominees.
Jacob is a devoted Scout leader in Beverley and Hornsea, volunteering tirelessly to support multiple groups and help other volunteers grow. He is always available to answer questions and ensure smooth operations, handling both face-to-face interactions and behind-the-scenes administrative tasks. For over 7 years, Jacob has been an essential part of Scouting, dedicating at least 2 hours every weeknight and additional time on weekends for events like camps and activity days. His efforts prevent the closure of nearly all local Scouting groups, impacting over 500 young people and volunteers, and enabling them to engage in activities like rock climbing and kayaking.
We were extremely proud to present Jacob with his ‘Behind the Scenes’ award on the night, and would like to take this opportunity to say a huge well done to all volunteers nominated for an award this year, the work you do in the community is priceless!
Our involvement with the Time2Volunteer awards runs deeper than just sponsoring awards, as directors we are actively involved with volunteering within our own communities and personal projects. The volunteers across all categories are amazing individuals and deserve recognition and their afternoon celebrating with their friends and families, they are truly inspirational
