Volunteers who 'buddy' elderly care home residents unable to leave their rooms have been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Norwich Evening News: Olive House residential home in Newton Flotman. Picture: SONYA DUNCANOlive House residential home in Newton Flotman. Picture: SONYA DUNCAN (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2016)

Olive House residential home, in Newton Flotman, this year welcomed a new team of volunteers to spend time with residents as part of National Volunteer Week.

A new 'buddy group' was formed, with volunteers spending time with residents who have reduced mobility or are unable to leave their bedrooms due to their health conditions.

The volunteers join them in their rooms to chat and socialise. Each has access to a special box designed for each resident, which is full of things connected to topics they enjoy to help provoke conversations.

The home has been now been shortlisted in the Volunteer Team of the Year category at the Caring UK Awards, a new annual event which recognises excellence and achievement within the care sector throughout the country.

Olive House's head of care, Kerry Gooda, said: 'We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for the Caring UK Awards and for our volunteer 'buddies' to be recognised in this way.

'We're so grateful to everyone who makes such a difference to the daily lives of our residents.

'The buddy group continually finds ways to keep residents engaged and involved in daily life at the home as much as possible, and we are very grateful for their time, efforts and energy.'

A member of the awards team will now take a look around the facilities at Olive House and talk to members and staff before compiling a comprehensive report.

That will then be passed on to an expert judging panel to decide the worthy winners.

Trophies will be presented at a glittering awards ceremony on Friday, December 8 at The National Railway Museum in York, where Olive House will be up against five other category finalists.

The Caring UK awards are organised by Script Events and Caring UK magazine. They are sponsored by Clydesdale/Yorkshire Bank.

Olive House, which is part of the Healthcare Homes Group, provides residential care for up to 45 people. It is currently rated as 'good' by the Care Quality Commission, which regulates care homes.

For more information on Olive House, call 01508 471718 or visit www.healthcarehomes.co.uk