A Bucks man is being honoured by the Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland with their Champions of Change Award.

Rotary Champions of Change is an annual event which recognises unsung heroes whose volunteering efforts have had a huge impact on people’s lives both at home and internationally.

This year, Martin Andrew from Haddenham will receive his award at the Gala Awards Ceremony at Volunteer Expo Live, the UK’s national volunteering show that is being held at the NEC in Birmingham on May 6 and 7.

Martin was a founding member of Haddenham and District Rotary in 1987 and has diligently served Rotary ever since, serving as President in 1992 and 2017.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021, Haddenham needed someone to take the lead and establish the pharmacy-led vaccination programme and local resident and Rotarian Martin stepped up to the plate.

Martin subsequently recruited and trained over 100 volunteers including other Haddenham and District Rotary Members and created and managed a volunteer rota that has delivered 33,800 vaccinations.

Martin said: “I consider this award a welcome recognition of the efforts put in by the community in Haddenham and neighbouring villages in response to a national emergency.

"I am also delighted that many of the volunteers who are not Rotarians, already helped at Haddenham Rotary events.

“I have been utterly delighted and awestruck by how the volunteering has gone. It's still continuing as we roll out booster jabs for over 75’s.

"I would not have missed for the world this last year ‘s opportunity to serve our community.

"I am a firm believer in the personal touch and building up friendly relations with the volunteers, many of whom are now firm friends, and I lead by example, in fact doing more shifts than any other volunteer apart from one, Lynne Hobbs, with whom I am level pegging.”

The search for this year’s winners was carried out across Rotary’s vibrant network of over 1,600 Rotary venues in the UK, with Rotary members and members of the public having their extraordinary work recognised.

This ranged from alleviating food poverty for disadvantaged families during the COVID-19 pandemic to bringing a community together to help the homeless.

Nicki Scott, leader of Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland, said: “What Martin managed to achieve through the vaccination programme is truly inspiring.

"Through his organisation and unparalleled commitment, he served his community diligently during a very challenging time.

“Martin’s ability to motivate a team of volunteers to give thousands of hours for a good cause is something we should all aspire to emulate and when the people of Haddenham look back on these past couple of years, they will especially remember the effort Martin and his team put in to bring us out on the other side of the pandemic.

“The Champions Awards is about giving those who pioneer, lead and support some amazing volunteering projects the recognition they deserve.

“The selfless and truly life-changing impact of our champions really demonstrates how through Rotary we can make a lasting difference and touch people’s lives.

“Rotary is certainly a place where people can turn their passion and ideas into sustainable change. There are so many heroes out there and to them I say, ‘thank you and keep doing what you’re doing’.”