Does someone you know deserve an award for their outstanding voluntary work? Why not vote for them in this year’s South of Volunteer Achievement Awards

The South of Nottingham Volunteer Achievement Awards were launched by Nottingham charity, The Renewal Trust, to recognise, reward and celebrate the outstanding contribution volunteers make to the area.

The Awards are now in their fourth year and they’ve helped to shine the spotlight on many volunteers of all ages, including those whose contribution may otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Nominations for this year’s Awards are open until 12pm on 29 October 2014, so why not nominate someone you know?

Anyone can nominate a person, project or group, as long as the work they do is voluntary and they’re based in the south of the city, including St Ann’s, , Ransom Road/ and Clifton.

All those shortlisted for an award will be invited to a glittering awards ceremony complete with red carpet on Monday 17 November at The Council House, Old Market Square, Nottingham from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, where the winners will be announced and the awards presented. The evening will include entertainment from IAMSTARZ, a 15 year old singer/songwriter from Nottingham.

Shortlisted volunteers, projects and groups will receive a certificate whilst winners will be presented with a prize. All those nominated will receive a hand-written thank you card from the Renewal Trust to recognise the work they do.

Every nomination will be carefully considered by a judging panel made up of representatives from the local area.

There are eight award categories including:

Volunteering Gold Award – presented in recognition of long service in .

Involvement in Bringing Communities/Neighbours Together Award – a project or person that has helped communities come together and make a positive impact in their community/neighbourhood.

Community Group of the Year Award – do you know of or belong to a community group that does something special or unique?

Young Volunteer Award – celebrate some of the positive things young people do in their community (open to volunteers aged 18 or under).

The Invisible Volunteer Award – a person who contributes to the community but may not necessarily be at the front end of activities.

Improving Health and Wellbeing Award – a person or community project (run by volunteers) which has made a positive impact on the physical, mental or spiritual health of people in the community.

Contribution to Arts and Creativity in the Community Award – open to projects or individuals that promote creativity and the arts. This could be in dance, art galleries and exhibitions, artist promotion, textiles, etc.

Improving the Lives of Children & Young People Award – the volunteers that are helping and mentoring young people to reach their potential and raising aspirations. Open to groups or individuals.

The awards are supported by local Councillors from for St Ann’s, Dales, Mapperley, Bridge, Clifton North and Clifton South.

To find out more and download a nomination form visit renewaltrust.org.uk or call the Renewal Trust on 0115 911 2226.

Nomination forms are also available from the following places:

The Renewal Trust, 27-31 Carlton Road, Nottingham, NG3 2DG The Greenway Centre, Trent Lane, Sneinton, Nottingham, NG3 4DF Nottingham CVS Volunteer Centre, 7 Road, Nottingham, NG1 3FB St Ann’s Valley Centre, 2 Livingstone Road St Ann’s, Nottingham, NG3 3GG Chase Neighbourhood Centre, Robin Hood Chase, St. Ann’s, Nottingham, NG3 4EZ Arkwright Meadows Community Gardens, Kirkby Gardens, The Meadows, Nottingham, NG2 2HZ The One Stop Shop, 5-7 Bridgeway Centre, The Meadows, Nottingham, NG2 2JD Clifton Cornerstone, Southchurch Drive, Clifton, Nottingham, NG11 8EW St. Jude’s Church Hall, 403 Woodborough Road, Mapperley, Nottingham, NG3 5HE , Stone Bridge Road, Nottingham, NG3 2FR Bakersfield and Neighbourhood Community Association (BANCA), 312 Sneinton Dale, Nottingham, NG3 7DN Sneinton Tenants Outreach Programme (STOP TRA) – call 07914 344 859 or email [email protected]