Leonard Cheshire choir leader ‘Volunteer of the Year’
Isla Atay, a pioneering Leonard Cheshire volunteer and second year Music student at the University of Manchester, has been presented with the University’s prestigious Student Volunteer of the Year Award.
Volunteering is an important activity for our students and through this they are able to become part of the Manchester community whilst they are studying.
The University of Manchester boasts one of the largest student communities in the UK and Isla was selected for the award from a pool of 40,000 students. President and Vice Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell presented her with the accolade, as well as the University Medal for Social Responsibility, at a ceremony on Thursday 2 May.
Isla has received the award for the outstanding hard work and dedication she has shown to Leonard Cheshire and its various programmes. At just 20 years old, while simultaneously studying for her degree, Isla volunteered her time to direct the rehearsals of a unique choir at Leonard Cheshire’s specialist Acquired Traumatic Brain Injury Service, Oakwood, near Stockport last Autumn.
Isla’s committed, enthusiastic and expert directorship brought together members of the community, ‘Can Do’ programme participants, Leonard Cheshire staff and people with a range of disabilities to sing as one. While many had never sung before, let alone in a choir, Isla’s leadership took the group to new heights as they prepared to perform at the charity’s fundraising concert – A Christmas Musical Extravaganza at Arley Hall.
Isla’s supportive attitude created a positive atmosphere for the participants, who were elated after the first rehearsal. One Oakwood resident commented that the choir was ‘a boost to morale’ and ‘great to do something a bit different’. Another had been bought music technology equipment by his colleagues following a brain haemorrhage and was pleased to be able to share his passion for music with the rest of the group.
The Christmas concert was a sell-out success and saw over 200 people in the audience, a testament to Isla’s passion for the project.
Leonard Cheshire’s 2018 Change 100 intern Amy Bradley, who pioneered the Christmas Choir project, was particularly grateful for Isla’s hard work in helping her vision bloom to fruition.
Amy said:
‘Isla’s directorship helped bring the ‘outside in’ for the Oakwood residents, building friendships and helping to fuel ambition. Not only that, but it helped those recovering keep motivated and reminded them that there was life beyond their rehabilitation. Her unprecedented and novel manner has made a huge impact not only on people individually but on the community as a whole.’
As well as showing her commitment to Leonard Cheshire in rehearsals, Isla has supported the charity outside of rehearsals, talking about the project on local radio, partaking in a number of fundraising activities and even nominating Leonard Cheshire for her Halls of Residence Charity of the Year.
Discussing the prestigious accolade, Lindsay Gilbert, Volunteering and Community Engagement Manager at the University of Manchester, said:
‘We are so proud of what Isla has achieved for our local community. Volunteering is an important activity for our students and through this they are able to become part of the Manchester community whilst they are studying here. Isla’s work is an outstanding example of how that volunteering can really make a difference.’
Talking about her experience with the choir, Isla commented that the opportunity had not only ‘helped me build my confidence in a leadership role but unexpectedly taught me a lot about myself in the process.’
Continuing with her work, Isla has also volunteered to co-manage the Harvest Concert which will be taking place at Arley Hall Chapel on Thursday 26 September 2019.
As part of the ceremony, the University of Manchester also created a video explaining why Isla was the recipient of this year’s award.
Media enquiries
For further information and high res images please contact Erin O’Reilly via erin.o’reilly@leonardcheshire.org
Notes to editors
The Leonard Cheshire Christmas Choir was generously sponsored by Corkills Northwich.
For any further information about this project and its impact, or if you or your organisation may be interested in supporting Leonard Cheshire and other local, life-changing projects such as this, please contact regionalfundraising@leonardcheshire.org
Find out more information on volunteering opportunities at Leonard Cheshire or contact volunteers@leonardcheshire.org.
About the awards
Every year the University celebrates the actions of students, staff and alumni who give their time and commitment to communities locally, national and internationally through the Volunteer of the Year Awards.