Monday, July 25, 2011
Chris Sanderson, a volunteer from Alresford, has been crowned Tendring’s Volunteer of the Year 2011 and ‘HIYA’ (Harwich Inspired Youth Action) won the Volunteer Group of the Year.
Chris was nominated for his unstinting work in the community. He is involved in most activities in Alresford including running tutorial fundraising sessions in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care; he is leader, organiser and treasurer of the Alresford Art Group; Chairman of the local camera club and he runs quizzes for the WI, the Village Hall committee and several other village groups. He is also involved in the local Action Group in respect of the proposed Quarry and a Trustee of the village hall Management committee. However, it was the fact that Chris regularly picks up litter and tackles illegal dumping in the village that attracted the notice of the Parish Council who nominated him for this award.
The award for Volunteer Group of the Year was won by the Harwich Inspired Youth Action. ‘HIYA’ are a group of young volunteers who have helped Age Concern, helped at the ‘Hoody Festival’ and helped paint a coach house at the reptile centre. They carry out monthly litter picking with Friends of the Earth and have volunteered thousands of hours in aid of the local community. They have also won the High Sheriffs Award.
The Annual Volunteer of the Year Awards are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Clacton Jubilee and it’s President, Rick Hale was present to award the certificates and a cash prize of £250 to each winner made payable to the charities of their choice. Rick Hale said “We are proud to be involved in the Volunteer Awards and fundraise for this and other community projects at the Santa Claus collection at Christmas”
The awards were made at the CVST AGM on Friday 22 July and afterwards a community networking buffet was enjoyed by all. Visit the gallery for photos.
The Volunteer Awards are important for our community. It gives everyone the opportunity to acknowledge the huge contribution made by thousands of volunteers who give their time, their commitment, their passion and energy all over the district in many ways. Volunteers assist in helping our community thrive – without volunteer involvement, there is no doubt that the district would be much poorer in terms of quality of life and well being. CVST received many worthwhile nominations and the panel, as always, found it extremely difficult to choose the winner. Everyone who was nominated could have won, but the panel had to make a decision. A full list of nominations is available on request.
Volunteer Group of the Year
Gold Award - HIYA (Harwich Inspired Youth Action)
Silver Award - MS Society Volunteers
Bronze Award - Alzheimer’s Society Tendring Volunteers Group
Volunteer of the Year
Gold award - Chris Sanderson
Joint Silver award - Nelzine Zenofie Green
Mildred Newton