People living in Lichfield and Burntwood are being asked to nominate the unsung heroes of their community.
The Volunteer Staffordshire Awards 2012 will highlight the local people who make a real difference to their communities and celebrate their work at an awards ceremony in March.
“It’s fantastic that through these awards we can recognise volunteers throughout Staffordshire,” said Nicky Burns, from Volunteer Centres Staffordshire. “Volunteers touch many people’s lives. During last year’s awards we heard numerous stories of how these special people are making the county a better place to live.
“By volunteering, even for just a couple of hours a week, it can really benefit people personally, socially and in their work and career. Whatever skills or interests people have, or time they have to spare, there’s a huge range of opportunities.”
Last year, the organisers of the awards received over 300 nominations for eight award categories, but are now looking to honour even more people by asking people across the county to nominate over 900 people in nine categories.
The categories are:
- Business Contribution to the Community Award
- Staffordshire Young Volunteer of the Year Award
- Environmental Volunteer of the Year Award
- Sporting/Cultural Volunteer of the Year Award
- Unsung Hero Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Volunteer of the Year Award
- Volunteer Team of the Year Award
- Outstanding Leadership Award
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for communities, culture and customers Pat Corfield said: “Our Volunteer Staffordshire Awards recognise the very best of what Staffordshire residents have to offer to their communities and the real difference they make to other people’s lives. These people help others continually and rarely get the recognition they deserve. Through their volunteering work they really do make Staffordshire a greater place to live and work.
“At last year’s awards we had eight exceptional winners, but all of the nominations were worthy of recognition. To have so many is testament to what great people we have in Staffordshire. I look forward to seeing even more nominations this year – our volunteers really do deserve to be praised.”
To find out more about the categories and nominate people visit www.volunteerstaffordshire.org.uk or call 0300 111 8000.