A volunteer with Barnardo’s family support team in Dundee has been honoured for her work with children and young adults.
Maria Florea, who is from Romania, earned a highly commended certificate from the Marsh Trust, a national Christian organisation that runs award schemes to celebrate the work of people trying to improve society.
She joined Barnardo’s Growing Up horticultural training scheme last year, dedicating two days each week to helping the young adults with learning disabilities going through the programme.
Since then Maria has widened her responsibilities from volunteering with a young carers’ support group and providing one-to-one support for a child on the autistic spectrum, to supporting playscheme programmes in the summer holidays.
Service manager Dave Anderson said: “In my view Maria is an outstanding volunteer. Not only has she been with us in a variety of roles, up to two days per week since September 2012, in addition her personal qualities make her popular, respected and very well liked.
“She is kind, caring, compassionate and unassuming, displaying a natural affinity and understanding of children and young people in her direct work, combined with a warm sense of humour and fun.”
Maria said of her award: “I feel honoured because I don’t see myself as having done anything special quite the opposite.
“It’s humbling, actually, because I have a strong sense of receiving much more than I actually gave during my volunteering time.”
Maria has been volunteering with people with disabilities in her home country for more than 10 years. It was there that she was introduced to Carpathian Aid, a charity based in Dundee caring for disabled and disadvantaged children in Romania.
A placement in Scotland was organised to help her to learn more about services for the disabled. She has also put her musical talents to use by singing on a fundraising CD available from the charity.
Maria said: “It’s not just the desire to help that counts, it’s also finding the most appropriate and efficient ways of helping.
“Volunteering with Growing Up turned out to be the best experience of my life. It was an attempt to gain as many skills as possible and then to try and move things forward in Romania, using everything that I was going to learn.
“I believe everyone has something to give, to pass on to the world.
“It was my mother who inspired me to be of help to those surrounding me, to always have my eyes open to the needs of those around me, without expecting anything in return. It’s great to think that people might feel loved and cared for as a result of something I am doing.”
She is continuing to volunteer in Romanian summer camps for disadvantaged children, where she can put into practice the skills she has gained.
“There are plenty of people around me who need a helping hand. I just hope I will be of use to them,” Maria said.