Today we profile Betty Collins who volunteers for Charlton Daytime Support, a county council-run centre which offers access to leisure activities for those with learning disabilities In her role, Betty Collins supports those who use the centre as well as raising funds for it.

For her work she was given Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action’s volunteer award.

Ms Collins, 80, from Wantage, said: “I am very honoured to have been given this award.

“I am sure I got it on behalf of all the other people who help out at the centre.”

How did you become involved with the charity?

“I heard that they wanted people to be on their fundraising committee so I volunteered to do it.

“I have always known the centre was there because I was a school teacher next door to it when it opened.”

How long have you been involved with it?

“I must have been involved with it for 15 years now.

“I work there about four times a week.”

What does the charity mean to you?

“I have a lovely time being with these people who have learning difficulties. They are so friendly and so loving.

“I just love going there all the time. It is a great place to go. The staff there are lovely and I really admire them.

“There is so much laughter at the centre.”

How has it made a difference to your life?

“Seeing how wonderful the staff are and how wonderful the people who use the centre are, despite their learning difficulties, makes me realise how lucky I am.

“They are all amazing people and they are all my friends.”

What do you do for a living and how does volunteering affect it?

“I am retired and have been volunteering at Charlton Daytime Support since then.

“I live on my own and my family lives far away, but I have so many friends.”

What was your happiest moment in volunteering?

“There was one person who usually just sat there and said nothing to us.

“But I went into the centre one day and I said ‘hello’, like I do every time I go in, and she waved back at me.

“I think it was because she was so used to me saying ‘hello’. It is moments like that which make it all worthwhile.”

What was your saddest moment in volunteering?

“The sad moments are when one of them dies and it makes everybody at the centre sad, so we all have to cheer them up.

“These are very meaningful moments. All the staff and helpers like me are in it together to help the centre’s users.”