Kathleen Dickinson, a digital support worker for Search Newcastle has been awarded a prestigious Healthwatch Star Award for going above and beyond to help older people in the West End of Newcastle.
Healthwatch Newcastle celebrate the outstanding achievements of health and social care champions, and they award Healthwatch Stars to people and services nominated by the public for special recognition.
In these particular awards, the person nominating a social care or health worker remains totally anonymous. The award aim to recognise a member of the local community who has helped to make a difference in someone’s life.
Read more: Unique cat which is 'amazing medical anomaly' finds purrfect loving home in Newcastle
Search Newcastle, a Benwell based charity that seeks to enhance the lives of people over 50 years of age has run a series of courses to help people get to grips with technology.
As part of her role as a digital support worker, Kathleen organised a session for older people wanting to find out more about how their mobile phones worked.
Healthwatch received a letter saying how much Kathleen had helped them and wanted her to get some recognition for her caring attitude and patience.
Phill Capewell, Interim CEO at Healthwatch Newcastle said that ‘Kathleen was nominated by someone who joined her Tech and Tea workshop. The person concerned now knows how to use their phone properly and it’s opened a whole new world with internet connectivity. As well as imparting knowledge Kathleen was patient and quick to explain any queries about the phones operation."
“Feedback like this is excellent and we are delighted to make the award. Healthwatch Star awards are there to recognise those incredible people who go above and beyond to help make a real difference to someone’s health and have gone above and beyond their normal role.”
Kathleen added: “It was a really lovely surprise to be nominated. The charity is there to support people and through initiatives like this we can see the social side of people’s lives improving. To think that someone took time out of their day to nominate me is really lovely especially for something as important as digital skills. I’m very pleased and proud.”
Read next:
-
Rising Sun Farm in Wallsend needs new leaseholder after management company filed for insolvency
-
Veterinary first as homeless kitten that is neither male nor female up for adoption on Tyneside
-
The People's Kitchen launches annual "Feed a Friend for a Fiver" Christmas fundraising campaign
-
Berwick café that fights food waste and offers vital support in 'desperate need' of fundraising help
