A selection of volunteers from across the Borough were awarded 100 hour certificates, 200 hour certificates, CVS Work Experience Awards and Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering Awards.

The evening was hosted by the Mayor of West Lancashire, Councillor Neil Furey. The presentations were held in the Mayor’s Chamber, with refreshments served in the Mayor’s Parlour afterwards.

After the presentation of awards, representatives from each organisation said a few words about the powerful impact of volunteers on the Voluntary Community and Faith Sector – Those present were left in no doubt that organisations just would not be able to run without the dedication and hard-work of their volunteers.

Greg Mitten, Chief Officer of West Lancs CVS as well as Janice Howard and Nicci Sutton-Kelsall from West Lancs CVS Volunteer Centre would like to say a big thank you to West Lancs Borough Council for hosting the ceremony and providing the delicious food.  Thank you too to the Mayor of West Lancs Neil Furey and his Mayoress for presenting the awards to the volunteers and making the evening really special.

Finally, thank you to all the organisations who attended the evening, along with their volunteers and for saying wonderful things about the impact of volunteering in our Borough:

• Skelmersdale Community Food Initiative
• The Sewing Rooms
• Disability Advice West Lancashire
• Divine Days Creative Arts
• Northwest Ecological Trust
• WLBC Parks and Countryside Service
• Friends of Sandy Lane CIC
• Thank you to Cath Thompson and Smita Shetty from the West Lancs Clinical Commissioning Group for attending on the night.

Last but not least, thank you to all of the Volunteers, not only those that attended on the night, but all of the volunteers across West Lancashire, who work tirelessly, giving up their free time to try and change the lives of others. Well done to all of you and a huge well done to the volunteers who were presented with awards!

List of volunteers who were awarded:

100 Hours

• Paul Lloyd – Disability Advice West Lancs
• Tamas Utlab – Disability Advice West Lancs
• Kamran Sohail – Disability Advice West Lancs
• Katherine Smith – Skelmersdale Community Food Initiative
• Angela Ditchfield – West Lancs CVS

200 Hours

• Christopher Watson – West Lancs CVS
• Katherine Smith – Skelmersdale Community Food Initiative
• Paul Lloyd – Disability Advice West Lancs
• Kamran Sohail – Disability Advice West Lancs
• Keith Richard – WLBC Parks and Countryside Service
• Harley Wright – WLBC Parks and Countryside Service

Work Experience Award – West Lancs CVS

• Grace Finley
• Jonathan Sneed

Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering

• Margi Hayes – Divine Days Creative Arts
• Irene Tyrer – Divine Days Creative Arts
• Laura Scott – The Sewing Rooms
• Pauline Fagan – The Sewing Rooms
• Christine Ashton – The Sewing Rooms
• Katherine Marsh – Friends of Sandy Lane CIC
• Kelly Neve – Friends of Sandy Lane CIC
• Linda Shute – Friends of Sandy Lane CIC
• Helen Birnbaum – Friends of Sandy Lane CIC
• Lawrence Smye-Rumsby – Friends of Sandy Lane CIC
• Craig Sutcliffe – Northwest Ecological Trust
• James Ashton – Northwest Ecological Trust
• Mark Dixon – Northwest Ecological Trust
• Eddie Winch – Northwest Ecological Trust

To find out more about how to join the West Lancashire Volunteer Centre Certificate Scheme, please contact WLCVS on 01695 733737 or email vc@wlcvs.org