Dudley CVS AGM and Volunteer Awards 2023

This year, it was the 21st anniversary of our Dudley Volunteer Awards. Can you believe that we have been celebrating the tremendous contributions made to our communities by volunteers since 2002? 

Dudley CVS’s AGM and Volunteer Awards 2023 once again celebrated those who have given their time to support individuals and communities, and during the evening we also shared how we’ve been connecting, inspiring, and championing great community work across the Dudley borough. 

You can find our Dudley CVS Annual Review 2022-23 here. 

This year’s event took place at the Brierley Hill Civic on 19 October and the following individuals and groups received awards. 

Community Impact Award 

The Community Impact award recognises some truly wonderful people around our borough, who are always there to step up and help; whatever needs doing they are there.   

Congratulations to highly commended awardees Steve Beckley and Kayleigh Williams who volunteer for Lunch on the Run, and main awardees Outside the Boombox and Elaine Deeming and Esther Mandale, who volunteer with Lifted Spirits. 

Physical Activity Hero/es Award

This was a new category this year and was open to any individual, or group with a story to tell that has impacted and inspired those who they engage with, by proving that physical activity can have a transformational impact on health, happiness and wellbeing.  

Congratulations to highly commended awardees Accelerate Running Club and main awardee Samantha Sweeney who volunteers with Enville Cricket Club. 

Ray McGuirk Young Believer Award

This category celebrates inspirational young people who have stepped up and come up with creative options to support their community, peers, older people, those who are isolated, or simply anyone in need. Let’s celebrate and recognise these amazing young people and inspire them to do even more.  Have they helped others to have a voice, helped to tackle anti-social behaviour or supported people with their mental wellbeing?      

Congratulations to team awardees Luke Collins, Tyler Griffiths and Ben Collins from Team Pumpkin Amateur Boxing Club. 

Environmental Champion Award

This category celebrates someone who is passionate about looking after the environment, or a group who has taken up an environmental challenge. We want to celebrate people who have stepped up to clear litter and rubbish from paths, streets, parks or green spaces, planted trees, grown and shared locally produced vegetables and fruit, and showed others how they could do this for themselves, or started an environmental campaign locally.     

Congratulations to Highly Commended awardees Ken Smith who volunteers at Hawbush Community Gardens and Jason Bloomer who volunteers with Ekho Collective, and main awardees Friends of Russells Hall Park and Samantha Bedford, who volunteers with YMCA Wrens Nest Navigators. 

Cost of living support Award 

This is a new category for 2023 as we recognised that with costs growing for nearly everything, money worries are a huge concern for residents across the borough. We wanted to recognise individuals or groups who have stepped up and offered residents support to help alleviate the issues caused by the crisis.     

Congratulations to the main awardees – Cost of Living Hub Support volunteers, who give their time through the CAB Cost of Living hubs. 

Are you ok? Award

This award recognises people who are supportive listeners, or who have helped others with their mental wellbeing. Being a listening ear when it’s been needed and offering an opportunity for people to talk about how they are feeling.   

Congratulations to the highly commended awardees Reminiscence Café Volunteers, who run a dementia café in Halesowen and Sgt Peppers Friendship Group, who provide a weekly social group for older people in Wall Heath. The main awardees were the Black Country Blokes who provide a wide range of support around men’s mental health and wellbeing. 

Lifetime Achievement Award  

We have brought this category back this year to celebrate those who have given a long-term commitment to a particular cause or group?  This category recognises those who have given years as a volunteer and is in memory of Dudley CVS’s late Chairman, Gordon Lindsay, who volunteered for over 60 years.     

Congratulations to the main awardee Wendy Ellis, who volunteers for Open Stage. 

Dudley CVS Spotlight Awards 

During the evening we presented Dudley CVS Spotlight Awards to a number of local organisations and people who we have worked closely with us during the year and made a real difference to local people across Dudley borough. 

Ultimate Entertainments 

Ultimate Entertainments have held events at the Civic since 2016. The relationship between the Civic and Ultimate has grown significantly over this time. As well as now holding over 30 events a year, Ultimate are always on hand to offer technical support and advice whenever needed.  

Ekho Collective 

Kindness, compassion and a focus on well-being are always at the forefront of everything Ekho Collective deliver. We’ve seen first-hand how creative and transformative Ekho Collective are.  The people we work with through our Integrated Plus service have the opportunity to connect with nature, learn new skills, make new friends, develop their confidence and self-esteem and become part of a community of like-minded people. Ekho Collective always provide our clients with a warm welcome and nurture their skills and talents.  

Nick Griffiths – Healthwatch Dudley volunteer 

 Healthwatch Dudley is supported by a team of amazing volunteers who are at the heart of what we do. Thanks to their efforts in the community, we’re able to understand what is working and what needs improving.  

Nick Griffiths has been a Healthwatch Dudley volunteer for over eight years. Throughout the years, Nick has always been a willing and interested volunteer, regularly offering his time, responding to volunteering opportunities and keeping in touch. We are delighted that Nick has grown in confidence and has now become a patient assessor at Russells Hall Hospital and is also taking part with the PLACE programme in 2023.  

Hayley Guest – Growing up green 

Hayley has been a key co-ordinator of the Growing Up Green Festival and has given her time to build connections and encourage involvement and participation. We’re presenting Hayley with a spotlight award to thank her for all her initial enthusiasm and her open and thoughtful approach to bringing people together.   

Nicola McGregor and Gill Towlson 

Our Halesowen Connected place-based network has grown considerably during the year and more members have joined the group. We couldn’t have done this without the support of Nicola and Gill from the Carers Health and Wellbeing Hub at the Brett Young Centre in Halesowen, who have provided a regular home for Halesowen Connected meetings. They host the network in their large social area, providing free tea and coffee and a warm welcome to everyone who attends.  

 Harry Bloomer  

We would also like to thank Harry from The Art Yard, who has been regular member at our Halesowen Connected meetings and has built a great relationship with Halesowen College. The team of volunteers from the Art also organise an annual Art in the Park event which brings art in many forms to the local community.