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Young Volunteer of the Year
The award ceremony was held on Friday 24th April at the Celebrating Young People conference.
All nominated young people have been awarded a certificate in recognition of the achievements in volunteering.
The young people who were nominated are:
Lucy who volunteers at Chipstead Lake Cheshire Home
Michael who volunteers at Swanley Youth Centre
Tom who volunteers with VSU
Sarah who volunteers with VSU
Daniel who is a member of Edenbridge Youth Forum and KYCC
Charlie who is a member of Sevenoaks Youth Council, and a young leader for cubs
Helena who volunteers with VSU
Daniel who volunteers with the community in Dunton Green
Tom who volunteers with St Mary's Church in Kemsing
Nikki who volunteers with VSU
Susie who is a member for the project appraisal panel for the Youth Opportunities Fund and good leadership qualities
Olivia who volunteers with VSU
Michael who volunteers with VSU
Sophie who is a member of Edenbridge Youth Forum
There were two runners-up. Both received a certificate and a prize of £50 of high street vouchers.
Judith Frost who volunteers with VSU. Judith always works with the harder to reach children who often get overlooked, she is constantly aware and acting upon the needs of the children she works with. Judith is described as reliable and committed to her volunteering.
Susie Lloyd who volunteers with VSU. Susie has a bubbly personality that is passed on to the people she volunteers with. She has dedicated time, effort and enthusiasm into their volunteering and is admired and looked up to by many of the people who work with her.
The winner accepted his award from Cllr Mrs Broomby, Chairman of Sevenoaks District Council. He received a certificate and £100 of high street vouchers.
Edward Bankes is Young Volunteer of the Year 2009.
Edward is 17 and lives in Sevenoaks. He is an active member of VSU Youth in Action and has been volunteering with them since 2006. He is an active member of the youth committee - helping to organise forthcoming volunteering projects and fundraising for the organisation and activities. He volunteers at a children's club and all school holiday activities. He is often one of the first to arrive and always willing to help set up activities. He is adept at leading activities and sessions - coming up with games and challenges for the children of all abilities, who often look to him for guidance.
Edd has made a lasting impact on the children he works with and his fellow volunteers. He is described as reliable and trustworthy, conscientious and dedicated to his volunteer work. He makes a fantastic role model to the children he works with, many of whom have no positive role models to look up to.
VSU Youth in Action is the supporting organisation for both the runners up and the winner. VSU have received a cheque for £400 to help them to continue to support youth volunteering in the future.
Cllr Elaine Bracken, the Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for young people’s issues, says: "The voluntary efforts of young people often go unnoticed, which is why we introduced the Young Volunteer of the Year award scheme – to recognise and celebrate the contributions they make. Every single young person who attended the ceremony deserves enormous credit for their dedication to helping others in their own time, and for giving other people opportunities they may not otherwise experience."
The scheme was organised and funded by Sevenoaks District Council to further recognise and celebrate young people’s voluntary contributions and achievements.
For more information, please follow this link to contact the Youth Development Section
05 July 2009
