A WILTSHIRE charity has triumphed at the national Caring UK Awards.

Care Home Volunteers won the Volunteer Team of the Year prize.

Based in Chippenham, the charity works across Swindon and Wiltshire, sending volunteers into care homes to speak to elderly residents.

There are almost 40 care home volunteers across Wiltshire, visiting 33 care homes in the county. A further 18 volunteers are currently being trained to do the one-to-one befriending visits. Many of those supported by the volunteers are older people suffering from dementia and may not be able to take part in social activities organised by their care homes.

Norman Edwards, chairman of CHV, said of winning the Caring UK Volunteer Team of the Year award: “This a great recognition of the superb work done by our fantastic team of volunteers. We are so proud of their dedication in bringing joy and friendship to older people in care”.

Caring UK Awards event director Judith Halkerston added: “All our winners have had an arduous journey to this point – the standard of entries was overwhelming and every facility that walked away with an award should be extremely proud.”

Robert Buckland, South Swindon MP, welcomed the award, calling CHV a hard-working and dedicated charity.