Helen Swift Nominated for the East Midlands Women’s Awards

Helen is a retired teacher, youth mentor, office manager, arts centre administrator, finance officer, fire service social and welfare officer and Birmingham Hippodrome sound technician.

Her voluntary and community work contribution to society includes the following: –

British Trust for Conservation Volunteer from age 14, working in the south west on projects

Eight years as treasurer and parent volunteer at St Paul’s Playgroup in Sherborne

Projectionist & Treasurer of the Yeovil Cinematheque Film Society, involved with all aspects of running the group, booking films, publicity, membership, catering, setting up projectors for the evening and showing films

Treasurer of the British Federation of Film Societies in the South West, keeping the accounts, and helping with film distribution around the region, attending national conferences and organising regional events

Publicity Officer of the Sherborne Twinning Association working with groups from France, Italy, Denmark and Poland, organising travel and hosts, arranging events/entertainment and catering

Conservation/Environmental Eco Coordinator at Rutland primary schools, organising whole school projects, and an after school club with trips to Peterborough Food & Farming Schools Show, support for the Osprey Project and trips to Corby Waste Water Education Centre.

Taking over from the founder of Uppingham Films, booking films, acting as projectionist and supporting publicity, catering and theme evenings

Working with Ping Pickers, a town litter picking group meeting monthly, notifying the council of larger pick ups

As if all this wasn’t enough Helen has been a Leader with 1st Uppingham Brownies for 20 years, providing weekly meetings, one off trips, residentials, local and regional events, liaising with Scouts, working with Uppingham in Bloom, making bug houses, supporting Uppingham Guides and launching the new Uppingham Rainbow Unit.

Now appointed as Rutland Girl Guiding Division Commissioner, a new role supporting all Girl Guide units in Rutland. Helen will be attending county and regional meetings, rolling out and encouraging national initiatives and promoting Guiding through attending local events.

To cap it all Helen has been an Uppingham Hopper Bus volunteer driver for the past 3 years, supporting the town with transport, doing a weekly regular shift, and delivering medical supplies. As you can tell from her photograph, Helen still presents a youthful image. What a worthy community nominee from Rutland to the regional awards.