Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year nominee – Nicola Middleton

Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year nominee – Nicola Middleton

From putting together Christmas food hampers for people in need to organising fundraising events, Nicola Middleton is so dedicated to helping others that her workplace has made her its charity champion.

The 52-year-old administrator, from Bentilee, has organised a danceathon, bake off competition and charity stalls during her 15 months working for Newcastle-based Brampton Recruitment.

Nicola has been nominated as a Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year in the Your Heroes Awards by her boss, Claire Leigh.

Claire said: “Nicola is Brampton Recruitment’s charity champion. It was her idea, dedication and hard work at Christmas 2022 that we provided elderly people within the community with hampers of food. With the team’s input and support we managed to raise more than £1,000 which meant we could supply substantial hampers to 50 households within the Stoke on Trent and Newcastle area.

“Nicola worked tirelessly to source the right products and to speak to local businesses for donations of products or monetary donations. She also added blankets, mugs and Christmas treats to the hampers which were then delivered before the Christmas holidays.

“Nicola is now our charity champion for this year and we are working with The Peter Pan Centre. So far this year she has organised a charity danceathon, a company bake off competition and attended and supported the Peter Pan Summer Fete with a stall of sensory toys which she sourced and sold to raise money for the centre. She is currently planning a charity quiz night to raise more much-needed funds.

“Nicola does all of this with passion, enthusiasm and a bubbly and playful nature. She really is a star. She has a heart of gold. Once I saw this award I knew immediately that I had to make you aware of her as she really does deserve a special mention.”

Nicola said: “Hearing that I’ve been nominated for a Your Heroes Award has brought tears to my eyes. To me this is just something that I do, it’s just my nature. I’m always giving things and helping people. It’s nice when someone recognises it.”