Man who concentrates on helping others is an award finalist

Helping those in need has been a mission for Prabhu Natarajan since he arrived in Banbury

A man who has worked tirelessly to help others during the pandemic has been named as one of the finalists in the Oxford Mail’s Oxfordshire Health & Social Care Awards 2021.   Prabhu Natarajan from Bretch Hill has been nominated as a Volunteer of the Year Award finalist.

Prabhu, his wife Shilpa and their son moved to the UK from India in March 2020.   Soon after arriving they chose to celebrate their wedding anniversary by buying and donating parcels of fresh food to those in need in their community.

Since then Prabhu has regularly organised food for struggling families and has raised thousands of pounds to help others.   He spent the Easter weekend dressed as the Easter bunny walking 50 miles to collect funds to help local people in need.

Prabhu works as a carer at Glebefields Care Home in Banbury.  He was nominated by Georgina Button, who told The Oxford Mail: “Throughout the pandemic he has collected and delivered food parcels to people who have struggled, raised money for families in need, set up his own food bank.

“He dressed as Santa and the Easter bunny giving gifts and eggs. He even gave away his own belongings to those who needed them. He selflessly helps feed families and spreads joy wherever he can.”

Prabhu told Banbury FM: “This was the biggest surprise of our lives.    My friends and family in India told me, finally your hard work for the last 10-11 years got paid off.”

“Everyone told myself and my wife that we have landed in the place where we should be.”

The Oxford Mail’s Oxfordshire Health & Social Care Awards 2021 were set up by the paper to recognise the talent and dedication of people who work in the sector, at the end of a particularly challenging year.   The awards hope to champion those teams and individuals that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to care for people during the Covid pandemic.

The finalists have been chosen by a panel of judges.   The winners will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony broadcast live on The Oxford Mail’s Facebook page in May.

Pete Gavan, the editor of the Oxford Mail and Oxford Times, said: “The people who work in the health and social care industry have always been an inspiration, not just during the pandemic, and these awards are our way of thanking them for their incredible dedication and skill.”

---

Published: 04/05/2021 11:11am by Banbury FM Newsteam

---