JULIE KOLASINKSKI couldn’t bear to say goodbye to the residents when she left her temporary job in the office at the Cedars care home in Purton so she asked to come back as a volunteer.

This week her enthusiasm was recognised when she was named Volunteer of the Year by the Orders of St John Care Trust.

“She’s amazing, “ said Marie Cranfield, manager of the Cedars, who nominated Julie for the award.” She just gelled with the residents.

“She goes the extra mile to help them live a great life and feel valued and you can tell she really, really enjoys it.”

Julie said she decided to come back as a volunteer because of the residents. “I knew that I would miss them and I wanted to give something back.”

“I wanted to treat them how I would expect my mother to be treated.”

As well as helping at events and with activities, Julie is happy to paint nails, take residents out or simply sit and chat.

“The stories that you hear from them are fascinating,” she said. “The more they talk, the more they come out of themselves.”

“It is just such a nice feeling, I wish more people would do it.”

At the award ceremony in Warminster on May 24, where she shared the title with Sonia Gittins from Hungerford House in Corsham, Julie was praised for taking the time to get to know residents and treating them with dignity and respect.

Robin Khokhar, OSJCT Assistant Operations Director for Wiltshire, said: “Our team members play a critical role in the trust providing our residents with the highest quality person-centred care, and, because of this, our annual ceremony is a very special event for us.

“Not only does it bring together our care teams from across the county, but it also gives us the opportunity to show our gratitude to all of the hard-working men and women who make a tremendous difference in our residents’ lives.

“All of the employees honoured at this year’s event have shown the utmost commitment and dedication to the Trust and everyone living under our care. Whether celebrating long service, individual training achievements and group accreditations to garnering praise from colleagues, all of 2016’s recipients are extremely deserving of the recognition and a big thank you.”

More than 90 employees and volunteers were at the ceremony where the awards were presented by Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire David Stratton.

Among the winners were Jennifer Rymell from Athelstan House at Malmesbury, who was given an award for 35 years of service and Ridgeway House in Royal Wootton Bassett, which won care and quality accreditation award for dementia awareness and medicine management.