THIS year’s East Hampshire Volunteer Awards ceremony provided an “inspirational evening” that publicly recognised volunteers in our communities who dedicate so much of their time to help others.

Organised by Community First and East Hampshire District Council (EHDC), the awards ceremony was held at the Festival Hall in Petersfield and celebrated the dedication and enthusiasm of local volunteers who make such a difference to the lives of so many residents.

More than 120 people heard an introduction by Janet Duggan, from Community First, and Rebecca Probert, from EHDC, prior to a welcome by Tim Houghton, chief executive of Community First, and EHDC?chief executive Sandy Hopkins, and a video speech by East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds, stressing the importance of volunteers to the district.

In her speech, Ms Hopkins flagged up how volunteers can take the pressure off the professionals, while Mr Houghton stressed the need for more younger people to get into volunteering, by using social media and modern technology as recruitment tools. And he stressed that volunteering was not a short, quick fix but “positive and important”.

There were also live performances from the Alton College Jazz Band and a selection of songs from the musical Oliver performed by The Petersfield School.

There was a presentation also by Ian Scott, chairman of Alton Men’s Shed. Launched in December 2014, Mr Scott explained that Men’s Shed is a self-help group for men who may be retired and looking for an opportunity to get out and meet others while supporting the local community by doing jobs which so far in Alton have included repairing bus shelters, re-installing street benches, and refurbishing garden furniture at the Community Hospital.

In closing the proceedings, Mrs Hopkins said that the event helped restore faith in people – it had not only celebrated the diversity of volunteering opportunities in the area but had sent out a message that volunteering was a lot of fun.

Six awards were up for grabs on the evening.

Young Person of

the Year

1 Alex Rhodes, 17, the Whitehill & Bordon Youth Project (for 11-16 year olds). Alex has been a long-term member of the youth club, attending until he was 16, and he now helps run the club, dedicating time to help with the smooth running of the club which is attended by up to 60 young people, helping them to learn new skills and expand their horizons. He attends Alton College and works part time.

2 Jordan Bleach, 20, from Petersfield who, in 2016, formed a volunteer group working on the Rotherland Nature Reserve. He received the award for good positive leadership.

3 Jemma Green – for her work on Clanfield skate park, and running a Facebook page - Love Clanfield.

Unsung Hero

1 Steven Dewey, of the East Petersfield Community Group.

Steven is chairman of what was described as “very active and successful residents’ association” with more than 200 members. He has worked tirelessly over the last few years to improve the local area for all the residents, with projects that have included successfully fundraising for a new artificial football pitch for young people, setting up a local StreetWatch patrol, the purchase of speed limit regulators to tackle speeding traffic, and holding community litter picks, as well as tackling many other local issues to improve the area. He has achieved this while holding down a day job and despite his facing adversity at home, as he supported his wife after she was diagnosed with a serious illness which meant she had to undergo a long and difficult treatment process.

2 Carolyn Westbrook, from Horndean, for her help with Hannah’s Holiday Home Appeal, providing free holidays for carers and supporting the family.

3 Margaret Warren, of Alton League of Friends, a voluntary organisation of Alton Community Hospital. A former nurse, Margaret has supported the work of the Friends for more than 20 years.

Small Team of the Year

1 Four Marks and Medstead Rotary Club – for their work in supporting the Young Carers project at the King’s Arms in Petersfield since last year. Earlier this year the club raised money to send one of the young carers on a residential trip and last month, sponsored a trip to Staunton Country Park for the King’s Arms junior group.

Plus the club has allocated five volunteer drivers who give young carers in the Alton area a lift to Petersfield for the Young Carers Club and back home again afterwards, as many parents aren’t able to bring them due to illness or having to look after a sibling. The volunteers stay for the whole two hours of the club to interact with the youngsters and to provide positive adult role models.

2 Deadwater Valley Trust at Bordon – for organising litter picking in the area.

3 Home-Start WeyWater – whose nine trustees work tirelessly to fundraise for the organisation.

Large Team of the Year

1 Home-Start Butser, Petersfield – the group has 60 volunteers, all recruited from the local community, who are trained and work with families who have at least one child under the age of five and who are struggling to cope. The volunteers will visit their families weekly for two to three hours providing consistent, confidential and positive support to help change lives during times of crisis.

2 Royal Voluntary Service Lunch Club at Liss which has been running for 37 years.

3 Petersfield Library - Summer Reading challenge: a team of 21 volunteers, aged from 14-65, who encourage ideas, tidy and help.

Lifetime Achievement

1 Norma Day, from Ropley – Mrs Day has been a main contributor to Ropley village life for more than 50 years. This includes her role as school governor for 40 years, some 30 years helping to run drama productions, and an ongoing commitment to St Peter’s Church, as a church warden and more recently playing an integral part in the church rebuild project, after it burnt down in June 2014. Mrs Day also set up bi-monthly community afternoon tea events and organises large scale functions on the recreation ground when the beacon is lit to celebrate notable royal occasions. She also organises a successful Christmas market and help with regular community film nights and is currently working on establishing defriblllator points in the village.

2 John Callaghan – responsible for running The Kings Arms Youth Centre in Petersfield, Mr Callaghan was described as “a champion for young people who all respect him”. He received recognition for the time and energy he put into the centre.

3 Norma Duke – an ambassador for Alton Community Hospital who, while she retired five years ago, having worked in different department including the fracture clinic and on reception, now helps look after the hospital garden. But the award was for her work as a volunteer, for more than 25 years, in getting urgently needed medical supplies overseas, working on behalf of several organisations, and which has included travelling twice a year to Romania, to support children in families in need.

Special Commendation

(For 100 hours or more of volunteering in one year)

1 Lisa Hillan, Alton – Lisa’s background is in teaching and law but she is now a professional volunteer. Her varied roles include being one of the five trustees who run the Alton Beer Festival, which raises funds for local charities, Chair of Governors at Eggar’s school, and the Youth Service Representative for Four Marks and Medstead Rotary Club, co-ordinating the Rotary Young Musician Competition and volunteering for Young Carers.

In presenting the award, Mr Evans said: “Lisa makes a massive difference to the local community, either by directly giving her time and expertise or by raising funds to maintain the valuable services delivered by local charities.”

2 Deanna O’Brien, 25, of First Petersfield Scout – Ms O’Brien received her commendation for inspires the young people, and is to open a second beaver colony next summer.

3 Colin Kemp, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, based in Alton – Colin assists vulnerable people considered at high risk of fire-related incidents and carries out fundraising.