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Search begins for North East Volunteer of the Year

This week is Volunteers’ Week, and the occasion has been marked by the start of the search for the North East’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’.

The North East Voluntary Sector Awards 2009 are organised by VONNE to celebrate the work being done by volunteers and charities across the region.

The contest last year saw more than 130 nominations, with the inaugural awards being presented at a ceremony in October by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Keith Willans from St Cuthbert’s Hospice won the Volunteer of the Year award. Keith recognised that there were no In Patient facilities for the people of North Durham and inspired a group of volunteers to take on the design, project management and fundraising for a ten-bed In Patient Hospice facility close to Durham.

Keith said on winning his award: “It is very humbling but extremely gratifying to learn that using my spare time to do a bit of something for nothing has been so widely appreciated.”

Jo Curry, Chief Executive of VONNE said: “Last year we were flooded with examples of people who quietly get on with improving the lives of others day in day out. It was clear that those making the nominations welcomed the chance to celebrate the difference that those people make. I urge people to start thinking of those who deserve such recognition.”

The awards can be made to any voluntary and community sector groups or individuals working in the North East region.

Visit www.vonne.org.uk/awards to see last year’s winners and to pre-register for a nomination form. The deadline for nominations is Friday 18 September 2009.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .