Volunteer of the Year nomination for Jo Kalies

Jo (right) with the Sixth Form netball team

Jo Kalies – Sport & Extra-curricular Activities Co-ordinator at d'Overbroeck's Sixth Form and Leckford Place School – has been nominated for the Sunday Times Volunteer of the Year award.

Alongside the excellent teaching, support and coaching she provides to d'Overbroeck's students, Jo also works as a volunteer at Summertown Stars AFC, the largest youth football club in Oxfordshire. There, she not only manages and coaches the girls' under 12 team, but has also set up a visually impaired football team.

'This season, Jo's Summertown team are in the under 14 league. The players play for fun and the team spirit and friendship they have is amazing. They lose more matches than they win, but the players turn up every week as keen as mustard to play. At Christmas they all donned Santa outfits and ran around Oxford as a team, raising nearly £300 for Helen and Douglas House.'

'Jo has helped girls' football grow at the club, and Summertown now has over 50 girls playing regular football. Jo is a likable individual, an excellent coach, and she would be a worth winner.'

– Paul Chamberlain, Summertown Stars AFC

Congratulations to Jo on her richly deserved nomination.