Oadby & Wigston volunteer heroes celebrated at glitzy awards evening
Published: Wednesday, 4 December 2024
A special Celebration of Volunteers awards ceremony was recently held for Oadby & Wigston’s local heroes, with four lucky winners scooping the top prizes over an evening of entertainment.
Oadby & Wigston Borough Council (OWBC) hosted the event on Friday 29 November to highlight the fantastic voluntary work which goes on in the community, and recognise those that do so much for the borough.
Almost 50 nominations were submitted, which led to just 13 finalists making the shortlist and being invited to the celebration. After judging by an independent panel, the following winners were revealed on the night:
Marilyn Bowles, Volunteer of the Year, was celebrated for her work at Oadby care home MHA Aigburth where she makes a massive impact on the lives of the residents through her gardening club, as well as running other events and fundraising activities.
Chloe Mushen, Young Volunteer of the Year, stood out to the judges for her role in the local Army Cadets where she not only throws herself into the volunteering activities they take part in but also acts as a mentor, taking younger cadets under her wing.
Paul Checkland and Friends, joint Community Group of the Year winners, inspired the panel with their dedication to putting on shows to raise money for local organisations, and demonstrating the positive impact that those with learning difficulties can have on their community.
The Oadby 50+ Group, joint Community Group of the Year winners, impressed the judges by how in just two years they have created a welcoming and friendly space for 40 regular attendees, offering people new hobbies and friendships and reducing isolation.
Winners of Volunteer of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year received £100 for themselves and £400 to donate to an Oadby & Wigston charity or organisation of their choosing, and winners of the Community Group of the Year received £500 each for their group.
The evening was generously funded by sponsors, with Amberwood Care Home sponsoring the Volunteer of the Year prize, Bond Adams Solicitors sponsoring the Young Volunteer of the Year prize and Universal Flexible Packaging Ltd sponsoring the Community Group of the Year prizes.
Further event sponsorship came from EEM Ltd as well as Pamson Grill, who kindly provided catering free of charge.
The rest of the event was funded with proceeds from the Oadby & Wigston Community Lottery. Each ticket for the lottery costs just £1, with 60% of the proceeds going directly to good causes in Oadby & Wigston. You can find out more at www.oadbyandwigstoncommunitylottery.co.uk.
Marilyn Bowles, winner of the Volunteer of the Year award said: ”I’d like to thank my volunteering friends at MHA Aigburth Residential Care Home and Dementia Unit for nominating me for this wonderful award!
“We work as a team to maintain the beautiful wildlife garden at the home and encourage as many people as possible from the wider community of Oadby & Wigston to visit us and get involved too!”
Cllr Samia Haq, leader of OWBC, said: “Congratulations to our winners. This was a fantastic event and it was truly inspiring to hear so many stories of the voluntary work which goes on in our borough - all of those shortlisted would have been worthy winners.
“I would like to thank each and every volunteer for all they do, and these often-unsung heroes truly make Oadby & Wigston a better place. This year marks the council’s 50th anniversary, and we could see no better way to mark the occasion than an event that celebrates this selfless dedication.
“I would also like to thank the evening’s business sponsors. Without their generosity it wouldn’t have been possible to host such a wonderful event, and their enthusiasm to get involved really shows how much our local volunteers are valued.”