The sky really is the limit for Liverpool City Council worker Donna Hall after she was presented with a high-flying national award for her work with the RAF Air Cadets.
By day, Donna works as a physical activity and sports development coordinator with the council and has recently been part of the Major Sports Events Team working on bringing events to the city.
But in her spare time, the can-do council worker has mentored hundreds of young people in her role as Regional Warrant Officer for Wales and West Region Air Training Corps.
Donna first joined the Air Cadets in 1994 because she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her older brother, who was already a cadet.
She took on her role as an adult volunteer in 2006 and since then she has helped scores of cadets to realise their full potential through a varied programme of activities and events. Donna is supported by the council in her RAF Air Cadet responsibilities, because she is given time to devote to her duties.
The outgoing head of the Air Cadets, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, decided to create a special Volunteer of the Year Award as part of her retirement legacy.
And Donna became its first-ever recipient when she recently travelled to Air Cadets HQ in Cranwell, Lincolnshire to pick up the impressive crystal cup.
Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty praised Donna for being ‘omnipresent’ in her role across the Wales and West Region.
She said:
“She is passionate about her role, lives and breathes drill and ceremonial and supports wider initiatives with her hard work, good humour and positivity. She inspires those around her.”
A delighted Donna said:
“Having benefited from being an air cadet myself, I took the role because I know the value the service can bring to the lives of young people. For me, seeing our cadets developing, growing in confidence and become outstanding citizens extremely satisfying.
“To be recognised for my work by Air Commodore McCafferty is an amazing honour. Volunteering is anincredibly rewarding thing to do and I would urge anyone who has ever thought of becoming a volunteer to give it a go.
“Thankfully I have received a great deal of support from Liverpool City Council which has enabled me to complete my RAF duties as well as keeping up with the day-job.”
