THE Bay of Colwyn Town Council has revealed the winners of the Bay of Colwyn Volunteer of the Year Awards.

The nominations were considered by the Volunteer Awards Committee, which includes representatives from the local community and from Community and Voluntary Support Conwy (CVSC).

The awards were presented at the end of last month with winners of each category receiving a slate plaque and certificate by the mayor Merrill Jones.

Winners of the Bay of Colwyn Volunteer Awards 2020 are:

• Adult (25-64 yrs): Peter Meredith

• Adult (65+): Rita Thomas

• Young Person: Alice Outten

• Group: Colwyn Bay Hospital League of Friends

• Green Volunteer / Group: Rhos Pickers

• Additional Award: John Arthur Jones

• Highly Commended certificates were also presented to adult volunteers Jeanette Creber, Catherine Davies and Joan Mercer.

For 2021, the Bay of Colwyn Town Council invited nominations for ‘Local Heroes’, those who, during the pandemic, had gone over and above what is usually expected to assist others in our local community.

From those who have collected/delivered shopping and prescriptions for the elderly or those that are shielding, to those who have provided food parcels or home cooked food to needy families, to those who have given their time and a friendly ear to people who are isolated in their own homes, or those who have used their daily exercise to help clean-up or green-up their local community – there were many examples of extraordinary kindness and generosity.

Winners of the Bay of Colwyn Volunteer Awards 2021 are:

• John Davies Memorial Award for Volunteering: Chicago 1935

• Adult (25-64 yrs): Jan Dock

• Adult (65+): Polly Leavers

• Young Person: Liam Dennis

• Other Group: Creating Enterprise Wellbeing Volunteers

• Additional Award: John L Thomas

• Highly Commended certificates were presented to adult volunteers Hannah Fleet, Stephen Jones, Christine Matthews, Caroline Gray, Rob Irvine, Alex While and Jonathan Young, and to group volunteers: Chicago 1935.

Cllr Jones said: “Since my election as Mayor in May, I am delighted to have had the opportunity to visit a number of local clubs, voluntary groups and other organisations and witness first-hand the amount of time and effort members of our community are prepared to give to voluntary causes, and to those organisations that are busy helping and supporting others in our community.

“This community spirit is evident right across our area and is both welcomed and supported by all at the Town Council.”

The Bay of Colwyn Town Council is now inviting nominations for its Volunteer of the Year Awards for 2021/22. There are seven categories for nomination:

• Young Person (under 25 years), or group of young people

• Adult (25-64)

• Adult (65 and over)

• Green Volunteer or group

• Trustee

• Other Groups (two or more individuals, whether informal or formally constituted)

• Additional Category (for those that may not meet the criteria for the other six categories)

Town clerk Tina Earley said: “We are now in the tenth year of our Volunteer Awards, which were introduced to recognise the valued contribution of our many local volunteers and voluntary groups, who show selflessness, devotion and service to the local community and are an inspiration to others.

“This is our annual opportunity to say ‘thank you’ and I would urge you all to think about the other unsung heroes in your community and consider nominating someone you know for our awards.”

The deadline for receipt of nominations is January 31.

Nomination forms and guidelines are available on-line at www.colwyn-tc.gov.uk or by e-mail request at info@colwyn-tc.gov.uk