Volunteering Awards

Each year Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil holds an awards ceremony to recognise and reward local volunteers for their outstanding achievements.  The awards are a celebration of the time, commitment and energy that so many people give freely and without payment to support other people in the community.

Each year, usually in January, VAMT asks its members to nominate an individual or group for one of a number of award categories which are presented during an evening of celebration, entertainment and special guests. 

The award categories this year were:  Citizenship of the Year, Young Citizenship of the Year, Learner of the Year, Young Learner of the Year, Group of the Year, Volunteering into Employment (new in 2008), Trustee of the Year, Carer of the Year, Young Carer of the Year, Adult Volunteer of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year.

The VAMT staff also nominate one of these winners to receive the Nicola Park Award for making an exceptional contribution to the voluntary sector during the year.

2008 Awards

The event has become such an important date in Merthyr's calendar that this year, two celebrations took place; a Volunteers' Certificate Evening held at Strikers Football Club on 4th June and the Outstanding Volunteering Achievement Awards, held on July 16th at the Bessemer Hotel.   

The Volunteers' Certificate Evening took place during Volunteers' Week which is an annual festival of volunteering.  Many different groups and organisations across the country plan local events ranging from high profile open days and volunteer award ceremonies to private social occasions for volunteers.

Any organisation can request that a volunteer receives a certificate in recognition of their volunteering and these were presented by special guests including the Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil, Councillor Clive Jones and local sporting hero, Kerry Hope.  The keynote speech was made by Dr Brian Gibbons AM, Minister for Social Justice and Local Government and the evening was hosted by Steve Powell from Valleys Radio.

The Outstanding Volunteering Achievement Awards at the Bessemer Hotel was hosted by Owen Money and Karen Brown of Valleys Radio, with special guest Robert Sidoli.

More information and photos of both events will appear on these pages shortly.