Champion volunteer Fiona leads NSPCC Christmas campaign

Fiona Simpson – award-winning Childline counsellor and Schools Service volunteer - is the NSPCC’s Volunteer of the Year 2016.

But that’s just the one (small) part of her amazing story.

Fiona, from Limavady, is also playing a leading role in the NSPCC’s Little Stars, the charity's Christmas campaign to help keep children safe.

She’s clocked up more than 1,000 hours of volunteering for the NSPCC, is a member of two choirs, and has brought up a family of 10.

In her spare time, she’s also a volunteer with a Cancer Focus charity and the Make-a-Wish children’s charity.

She taught five and six-year-old children for 35 years in a small, rural school and then taught music to the older children in the afternoons.

If you want someone to arrange a school nativity play – Fiona is your go-to person.

She took early retirement seven years ago to devote even more of her time to charitable work.

She travels throughout Co Derry as part of her Schools Service work bringing the “Keeping Safe” message to thousands of children as well as other teachers.

Once a week, she makes the 150-mile round trip to Belfast to rehearse with the Cancer Focus Choir which gives performances all over Northern Ireland.

According to Foyle Childline volunteer co-ordinator Sarah Carlin: “Fiona enters each shift with a smile and positive attitude, which really resonates with everyone.

“She’s so helpful to our new volunteers. She never settles for second best in the counselling room or classroom.”

“She never seems to rest either. Her motto? “You’ve got to keep going”.

You can find out more about the NSPCC Little Stars campaign at https://nspcc-little-stars.org.uk/ Photo shows Fiona (centre) receiving her NSPCC Volunteer of the Year award from the charity’s chief executive Peter Wanless and the Duchess of Wessex