Volunteers from across the Caerphilly county borough have been recognised at the 2024 Volunteer Achievement Awards, held in Blackwood on Tuesday 8th October.
Caerphilly County Borough Council and Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO) organise the award ceremony to honour volunteers who undertake invaluable work across all sections of the local community.
During the evening, winners were congratulated and presented with awards in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Gwent, the High Sheriff and the Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Cllr Sean Morgan, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council said, “The awards are a celebration of the endless spirit, enthusiasm and dedication of our thriving voluntary sector and I am delighted and honoured to be a part of it.
"Volunteers are an inspiration to us all as they play such a vital role in our society. Award ceremonies like this allow us to do our little bit to recognise the positive contribution they make to so many people’s lives.”
The full list of winners this year is as follows:
Most Innovative Social Enterprise
Winner: Joanne Payton - A Best Friend’s Handbook
Runner Up: Vision 21
Trustee and Director
Winner: Lesley Brunton of SYDIC
Runner Up: Lesley Isaacs-Penny of Blood Bikes Wales
Runner Up: Chris Edwards - Friends of the ECO Park- Cefn Forest
Food Sustainability
Winner: Caerphilly People First
Runner Up: Sirhowy Valley Hub CIC
Sport and Leisure
Winner: Welsh Wallball Association
Runner Up: Caerphilly Tennis Club Leaders
Health and Wellbeing
Winner: Wendy Williams and Geoff Cook
Runner Up: Sian Mainwaring
Community Advocate
Winner: Dennis Roberts
Runner Up: Caerphilly East Social Club
Environmental
Winner: Alan Harding
Runners Up: Valerie Hammond
Runner Up: Caerphilly Uniform Exchange
Inspirational Young Person
Winner: Lucy Jones
Runner Up: Olivia Underwood
Runner Up: Esme Jones
Family Champion
Winner: The Toy Box Project
Runner Up: Vicky Jones
Inspirational Journey
Winner: Simon Cook
Runner Up: Ceri Hooper
Culture and Heritage
Winner: Caerphilly Workmans Hall
Runner Up: Black Vein Memorial Society
Mayor’s Civic Award
Laura Dufty
High Sheriff’s Award
Gwent N-Gage Youth Ambassadors
His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Gwent Award 2024
Joanne Payton - A Best Friend’s Handbook