National award for Isle of Wight charity volunteer Margaret

Margaret Rylands has volunteered with Home-Start on the Island, supporting families in their homes, since 1999, and has been a trustee for almost the same amount of time.

Parents and carers, who have benefited from Margaret's hard work, described her as "a lifeline, a part of the family, the mum I don't have, the grandmother to my children that they haven't got."

Margaret Rylands, wearing blue, watching the national ceremony at Briddlesford Farm (Image: Home-Start IOW)

Home-Start UK’s Volunteer Awards were held in January to recognise and celebrate the contributions of volunteers across the country. 

Around 30 Island volunteers, families, and trustees gathered at Briddlesford Farm to watch the national ceremony and see Margaret win the biggest award of them all - Volunteer of the Year.

Margaret will receive a cash prize from the Marsh Charitable Trust, as well as a trophy and a certificate.

See video below, courtesy of Home-Start UK

Speaking after the award ceremony, Margaret said: “I was just amazed that I made the shortlist – and I don’t know what the word is now! 

“I’ve really enjoyed all the years that I’ve been at Home-Start. I’ve often felt that I get at least as much out of it as the families if not more.

“It’s lovely watching children grow up with the families I’ve stayed in touch with. I hope that somewhere along the line, I’ve made a difference.”

Becky Dollery, a mum from one of the first families Margaret helped, said: “It’s quite emotional.

"It was really tough when the kids came home from hospital, being so premature, a lot of the time, I was on my own with my husband working away during the week – so I really only had Margaret.

“Without her help, I couldn’t have done those little things other people take for granted.”

Marie Cooper, another mum supported by Margaret 20 years ago, says: “There’s not a thank you big enough - she’s not a volunteer to us, she’s family.”