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Golden moment for volunteer behind sensory room

Community Leisure UK Alisha Burley, a 19-year-old woman with blond hair who is wearing glasses and a silver dress, poses for a picture with her arm around Sally Gunnell, who is wearing a green dress and holding a gold medal.Community Leisure UK
Alisha Burley (right) with host Sally Gunnell, at the final of the Seriously Social awards

A young woman who helped to create a sensory room has been recognised at a national awards ceremony.

Alisha Burley, 19, was one of three finalists in the outstanding volunteer category at the Seriously Social awards.

Ms Burley, who has learning difficulties, helped develop the calming and colourful space at Cleethorpes library for neurodiverse children and adults.

“I had a wonderful time at the awards," she said. "I was very proud and felt like a winner just for being able to go.”

Ms Burley began volunteering with Lincs Inspire Libraries last December through an arrangement with Linkage College in Grimsby.

After working on the sensory room, which opened in July, she was invited to the awards ceremony in Manchester, which was hosted by Sally Gunnell, the Olympic gold medal-winning former athlete.

Community Leisure UK Alisha Burley smiles at she sits at a table in a glamorous-looking ballroom, surrounded by fellow guestsCommunity Leisure UK
Colleagues have praised Ms Burley's work at Cleethorpes library

Ms Burley said she would not have had the confidence to attend the glitzy event a year ago.

"I love working at the library,” she added.

Anna Brader, a colleague and mentor, attended the event alongside Ms Burley.

She said: “I am so proud to have been a part of her journey so far, and am so pleased that we have been able to offer her a volunteering opportunity that has allowed her to shine.

"I am looking forward to seeing what other great things she can achieve within this role."

The Seriously Social awards aimed to highlight the social impact made by charitable trusts and their teams.

Kirsty Cumming, the chief executive of organiser Community Leisure UK, congratulated Ms Burley and all the winners and finalists.

"They are a shining example of what the charitable sector does best – putting people above profit to create positive social change,” she said.

A local celebration for Ms Burley is to be held at Cleethorpes Library on 11 December, as part of a Christmas concert called Boogie, Books and Brew.

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