Young People Bring Festive Cheer and Connection to Trewan House Care Home

Vibe UK is celebrating the true spirit of the festive season, as young people from its Halton Short Breaks programmes visited Trewan House Care Home to share joy, kindness, and meaningful connection with residents.

During the visit, young people delivered cosy, fluffy socks donated by Vibe UK staff and fellow young people, with additional contributions made possible thanks to the generosity of Michael Moon Estate Agents, Beam Recruit, and Employment & Payroll Services UK Limited. Residents also received handmade Christmas cards, thoughtfully created by young people attending the Halton Saturday Clubs.

However, the visit went far beyond gift-giving. Young people spent time sitting with residents, watching television, sharing conversations, and building genuine connections across generations. In a particularly touching moment, one young person used British Sign Language (BSL) to ensure residents who were hard of hearing could fully engage and feel included.

For many residents, the visit had a profound impact. One shared that she rarely receives visitors, and on that day, she felt as though she had many.

This initiative highlights the power of small acts of kindness and the importance of intergenerational connection. Vibe UK is incredibly proud of the compassion and empathy shown by its young people, and extends sincere thanks to all partners and supporters who helped make the visit possible.

Vibe UK Celebrates Young Leader Lyla Magdy as Volunteer of the Year

Vibe UK is thrilled to announce that Lyla Magdy has been named our Volunteer of the Year, recognising her incredible commitment, kindness, and leadership within our SEND Saturday Club.

The award was presented during a surprise celebration held as part of her usual volunteering session. Vibe CEO Paul Oginsky and SEND Lead Youth Worker Joanne Swindell, who first invited Lyla to join the team, were both there to honour her achievements.

A True Vibe Success Story

Lyla first came to Vibe as a young participant in the Saturday Club. When she turned 18 and could no longer attend as a member, Joanne invited her to continue her journey as a young volunteer. Over the past year, Lyla has become a hugely valued part of the team, bringing warmth, patience, and her natural talent for supporting SEND young people. She also hopes to pursue a career as a Teaching Assistant — and her volunteering has become a key step toward that goal.

Making an Impact Beyond Vibe

In 2022, Lyla began an ambitious personal project: to teach basic sign language to 50 local companies and community organisations. She has now far surpassed this goal, with almost 200 organisations involved, helping to build a more accessible, inclusive community for Deaf and hard of hearing people.

What We Had to Say About Lyla

Paul Oginsky, CEO of Vibe UK, said:
“Everyone at Vibe UK is so proud of Lyla. She is an amazingly kind person who is happiest when she is contributing. Presenting her with this award is an absolute honour.”

Joanne Swindells, SEND Lead Youth Worker, added:

“When Lyla turned 18, we invited her to volunteer at the Saturday group. She has been supporting us for over a year and has done an incredible job. Lyla is an amazing young woman and a fantastic example of progression through Vibe.”

Celebrating Youth Leadership

Lyla’s story represents the heart of Vibe’s mission: supporting young people to develop confidence, skills, and opportunities that enable them to thrive, and to make a real difference in their communities.

Young People Celebrated at Lord Derby Awards Ceremony

A huge congratulations to all the incredible young people from our Short Breaks programmes who were recognised at today’s Lord Derby Awards.

The ceremony was a fantastic celebration of the achievements, resilience, and personal growth of young people who have taken part in the programme. Each award highlights the dedication and progress made, and it was a proud moment for everyone involved.

We were honoured to be joined by special guests, the Mayor of Halton representing Halton Borough Council, and British Paralympian Jack Hunter Spivey, whose presence made the day even more memorable. Their support and encouragement added to the significance of the occasion and inspired all in attendance.

Events like the Lord Derby Awards are a powerful reminder of the importance of recognising young people’s successes and creating opportunities for them to shine.

We are incredibly proud of every young person who received an award today—this is a well-deserved recognition of their hard work and achievements.