volunteering
Volunteering Oscars
Volunteering Oscars
The "Volunteering Oscars" have been initiated by The Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor John Fox, who has made the theme of his year in office "The Year of the Volunteer". These awards, in conjunction with the Harrogate Advertiser Series and Harrogate and Ripon Volunteer Centres, hope to recognise the huge contribution that so many volunteers make to community life.
The Mayor said "Thousands of people volunteer in the Borough of Harrogate every week, helping organisations achieve their purpose. They help and support in many different ways, do jobs big and small, all of which are so important in making a difference, and now is the time to say a huge thank you to all these willing volunteers. I am inviting organisations, groups or individuals to participate in this great thank you event for volunteers. Through the Volunteer Centres we are asking groups from throughout the Borough to nominate volunteers for this awards celebration". Click here to read the official letter from the Mayor launching the event.
There are fourteen awards in total to enable all types of volunteering to be recognised. The categories are:
- Care Volunteer of the Year - for any volunteer who has worked with and contributed towards a care based activity
- Community Volunteer of the Year - for any volunteer who has worked with and contributed towards a community based activity
- Environment Volunteer of the Year - for any volunteer who has worked with and contributed towards an environment based activity
- Sports Volunteer of the Year - for any volunteer who has worked with and contributed towards a sports based activity
- New Volunteer of the Year - for any person who has started volunteering within the last 12 months
- Corporate Engagement Award - for any business or team who have taken part in a volunteering initiative over the last 12 months
- Young Volunteer of the Year - for any volunteer under 25 years of age
- Volunteer of the Year - for the volunteer who has given an extraordinary contribution to an organisation, its service users and fellow volunteers. This volunteer has gone those extra miles!
- Organisation of the Year - for the organisation that has demonstrated best practices in volunteer management
- Lifetime Volunteer - for the volunteer who has given an extraordinary contribution to the organisation, its service users and fellow volunteers over a significant length of time. Unlike the other awards this recognises the contribution across a number of years rather than just the last 12 months.
- 'Unsung Hero' awards - for any volunteer who has worked to help and support others, not belonging to a voluntary organisation and not fitting into the above categories - for example helping to organise community events or being a thoroughly caring neighbour. An award will be given to a volunteer in each of the following areas - Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough & Boroughbridge, and Nidderdale.
The awards will be made at a celebration evening which be held at the Swallow St George Hotel, Ripon Road, Harrogate at 6.30pm on Friday 7 November 2008. Shortlisted nominees will be invited to bring a friend with them to celebrate volunteering in the Borough and to find out who has won the awards.
To nominate an individual or organisation for an award, please click here to link to the Harrogate Advertiser Website and nominate online.
Harrogate & Area Volunteer Centre
Community House
46-50 East Parade
Harrogate HG1 5RR
Tel: 01423 509004
Fax 01423 502126
e-mail caroline@harrogate.org