AN awards evening for the ‘Third Sector’ - the volunteers whose dedicated contribution to the community is well-recognised -was held last week at Bridges Community Centre.

Mike Harbinson, Chair of the Gwent Association of Voluntary Associations (GAVO) welcomed the audience and said that the evening was a “celebration of volunteering”. He was proud that in a society where there is less money about, the volunteering sector is playing an increasingly important role in the community.

The sentiments were echoed by Martin Featherstone, Chief Executive Officer of GAVO who thanked Bridges for letting them hold the event there; “It is right and proper to hold this event in a community venue.” He went on to say that “the evening was all about celebrating the influence volunteering has in the community.”

Compere for the evening, Shirley Hughes, then introduced the first category of award winners.

•An individual or group whose outstanding voluntary work has contributed to community facilities or activities. The runner up was Wyesham woman Joanne Stephens who spends at least 12hrs a week volunteering with several groups such as the 1st Wyesham Brownies, Busy Bees Mother and Toddler Group and more recently set up and oversees the Wyesham Community Garden. The winner was Shirley Smith, a volunteer at Bridges Community Centre for over 10 years who excels in fundraising for the project.

•An individual or group who has contributed to improving the environment locally or on a wider scale. The runner up was Llanbadoc Community Council Pathcare Winner and the winner was Kay Peacock who volunteers at Usk Church in Wales Primary School in one form or another.

•Outstanding work by a young person or group, ‘signed up’ to the Millennium Volunteer Programme and aged 14 to 25.

The runner up was Rebecca Freeman, who has been helping Monmouthshire Sports Development and Chepstow School by promoting sporting activities for the last four years, and has set up and run girl-specific sports clubs. The winner was Sam Varley who has been volunteering with the Building Bridges Project; she has clocked up over 200 hours on the Millennium Volunteer Scheme.

•An individual or group, who are under the age of 25 and involved in any kind of volunteering activity in Monmouthshire that benefits others. The runner up was Luke Sadler from Magor who has been volunteering in his local community for five years. The winner was Jacob Rook from Sedbury who makes home-made cakes and cookies for the Older Peoples Youth Club, organised by the Community Connections Befriending Scheme in The Palmer Centre in Chepstow

•Awarded to an individual or group who are involved in any kind of volunteering activity in Monmouthshire that benefits other people’s personal care or wellbeing of others. Runner up was Jamie Carne who has been volunteering with the Building Bridges Project for 18 months, and also volunteers in Usk Library. Joint winner was Chepstow Stroke Experience Group and Martin Stevens who has been volunteering with Women’s Aid Monmouthshire for over four years.

•An individual or group who is involved in any kind of sport or leisure activity in Monmouthshire that benefits others – young or old. Runner up was Hannah Wilding from Caldicot, a key member in the Sport4life programme.

Joint winners were Helen Kenneally from Chepstow, a Monmouthshire Tourism Ambassador who volunteers nationally with the Youth Hostel Association, and Guy Erro from Osbaston, Monmouth who delivers coaching sessions for Monmouth Tennis Club, Breakfast Club at a local Primary School and also a weekly session called Netball Tots for children 2 – 6 years of age.

An individual who recognises the commitment, hard work and the dedication by a Trustee.

Runner up was Irene Williams who works for both Chepstow Rugby Club and COMBAT – a group made up of representatives from local community groups in Bulwark who campaign on local issues of concern.

Winner was Terry Wood from Chepstow, who for 20 years, has been the mainstay of the Bulwark Community Centre.