Volunteers

Published 8th Jun 2010 - The Gateway Site

Volunteers

The winners of Bradford’s first Volunteering Awards were announced at a glitzy event in Saltaire last night.

Volunteering Bradford teamed up with the Bradford Volunteering Strategic Partnership to hold the awards ceremony in Victoria Hall to celebrate Volunteers’ Week.

The celebration was held to reward the hard work of the thousands of volunteers in the Bradford district along with community organisations, sports clubs and charities.

The event also saw the start of the district’s first Volunteering Strategy and celebrated Bradford’s 16 to 25-year-old volunteers who gained a certificate through the National Youth Volunteering Agency, V-Inspired.

Ian Greenwood, 47, who volunteers for Nacro/Bradford Youth Offending Team and shared the New Volunteer Award, said he was inspired to balance his full-time job with volunteering when his daughter was referred to the team for rehabilitation.

He said: “I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. The people I help are one step away from a custodial sentence.”

Donald Ward, 55, who shared the award, said: “If you talk to them with respect they have to respond with some respect.”

Peter Smith, 61, of the self-advocacy and support group for people with learning disabilities, Bradford People First, which won the Innovation Award, said: “We do a lot to stand up for people’s rights so it’s nice to have that recognition. People don’t always realise the talent of people with disabilities.”

Volunteering Bradford director Dave Forrest said: “Victoria Hall in Saltaire was a very grand and fitting venue to celebrate the huge contribution of the thousands of volunteers who give up their time for free to help others.

Winners

Tommy Redgrift and Paul McDonnell, of Bradford People First, were the joint winners of the Volunteers with Outstanding Achievement Award.

Morzeen Akhtar, of the Together Women Project, won the Volunteer with Dedication and Commitment Award.

The Volunteer award for Lifetime Achievement went to John Rawnsley, of the Ravenscliffe Community Association.

Donald Ward, of Nacro, and Ian Greenwood, of Nacro and the Bradford Youth Offending Team, both won the New Volunteer Award.