Volunteer of the Year Award Finalists

Sue Boorman
Chair, Welsh Assembly Group Sports and Social Club:
Sue's leadership and enthusiasm in 2010 saw the DA stage awareness road shows across the Welsh Assembly to promote the new club resulting in an increase in CSSC membership. Sue also initiated regular newsletters and the development of a DA website.

The club can now boast a growing programme of activity including various sports events, participation in the CSSC Celtic Games and Walk Leader courses for staff.

If Sue had not been involved with the club DA it is believed the club would not have been set up during 2010.

This is what Sue had to say about her nomination:
"To be honest I was completely taken aback and amazed. I had no idea whatsoever that I had been nominated until I got the phone call from Hedley to say I was one of five finalists and I think I was speechless for a few minutes. The event itself was amazing and I felt quite humbled to be among such worthy finalists, let alone all those who had been nominated and not short-listed. It just brings home how many people do so much behind the scenes that we never get to hear about otherwise. I was not at all disappointed not to win, just hugely gratified that I was nominated by my peers.!

Anne Young
Central & Forth Valley AA Secretary, Scotland Region Secretary:
Anne Young was involved in many CSSC projects during 2010 especially, within the Scotland Region and Central Forth Valley Area Association.

Her key roles were as Scottish Council Regional Secretary, Area Secretary Central & Forth Valley AA, Celtic Games Lead Volunteer, Celtic Games Sub Committee, Scottish Conference, Inter Regional Challenge, and Offers for Members, Inter Area Event and Celtic Games Qualifier.

Anne has been the front face of the Scotland Regional Committee as the Secretary and is highly involved in supporting other volunteers within the Region.

There is no doubt Anne works tirelessly for CSSC as a volunteer. During 2010 Anne once again displayed her conscientious approach to volunteering within CSSC.

This is what Anne had to say about her nomination:
"When I heard that I had been nominated for the volunteer of the year award I was very surprised. Why had I been nominated for an award for just doing something that I enjoy - my volunteer job? Once I had got used to the idea I was really pleased.
When I go to CSSC events I love the chance that you get to meet so many people. I have made loads of friends in the 11 years that I have been an active volunteer. When I got the phone call to say I was one of the 5 finalists I was quite shocked but extremely proud. If I was to win it would mean a lot not just to me but to Francis and all the volunteers that I work with in the Scottish Region. It will inspire us all to carry on the good work of CSSC in the new & exciting times ahead."

Adele Hirst
Volunteer with Leeds AA and Yorkshire region:
Described as a 'doer'. Adele has a record for making things happen. Not content with becoming a committee member with Leeds AA in 2010 she also volunteered to take on 5 new regional activities for the Yorkshire region.

Her main achievement though was volunteering to become the Yorkshire Region co-ordinator for the On Line Shopping Scheme. She worked with North West volunteers to ensure that Yorkshire became the first region (apart from the founders NW) to join the scheme.

When she joined the Leeds AA committee she soon made a difference. Previously the AA had only met once a year for the AGM. They now meet 4 times. She challenged, questioned and helped shape their current programme of events which is now more reflective of member's needs.

Adele delivers on her promises. She sees where new events may be attractive to members and goes away and organises them. She also follows all the policies laid down for Yorkshire organisers. If something needs doing Adele will often volunteer if she can although she does recognise that there is a danger of trying to do too much and will say 'no' if necessary.

This is what Adele had to say about her nomination:
"I was very pleased, and very surprised, to find out I had been nominated for Volunteer of the Year, particularly as I have only been in CSSC for a couple of years. Having been in HASSRA for 15 years, I have to admit I did not even know about CSSC. I joined CSSC Leeds Area as a member, and then went along to their AGM in that first year to see what they did. I came away from the meeting having volunteered to be on the Leeds Area committee. I went home thinking, "How did that happen?"!
I am now on the Yorkshire region committee with a responsibility as the Yorkshire 'On Line Shopping' representative. If only my Civil Service career had been so meteoric! I have been organising mountain biking days for the last two years, and that has been great fun, and we have had some great feedback. For me, being a volunteer is about organising things for members, and using our bulk buying power to get great deals for members, whether that is tickets for attractions or activity days."

Berewyn Long
Chair, Bournemouth AA:
Berewyn as chairman of Bournemouth Area Association has been the glue that kept the AA together and operating in 2010. Despite losing its ground a number of years ago the AA had never successfully resurrected itself.

At the beginning of 2010 Bournemouth Area Association were once again facing difficulties as they were without a secretary and a treasurer. Berewyn knew that it would not be an easy year but this did not stop him and whereas some people would have walked away, Berewyn didn't. Within a few months the Area had a new secretary and both a treasurer and an assistant treasurer. Berewyn was instrumental in ensuring that the Area did not fall to pieces, as was the fear at the end of 2009. Working alongside Head Office, throughout 2010 Berewyn produced regular newsletters, informing members of the benefits available to them. He also organised different trips and events for the members.

Without Berewryn's stubbornness and determination it is believed Bournemouth Area would either no longer exist, or they would simply be treading water achieving very little.

This is what Berewyn had to say about his nomination:
"I was pretty surprised to find out that I had been nominated, it wasn't something that I had been seeking or was in any way expecting so to be told that I had made a shortlist was a bit of a turn up. On reflection I'm still not sure why I have received the nomination. I'm sure that there are volunteers across the country in all associations that give their spare time willingly and do a lot of work that goes unseen by their membership. I can say that the nomination is something that I feel very proud about personally but must say that without the help and huge support of the committee in our area then there would not be a functioning area association let alone one of it's members up for an award so a lot of credit must go to the other association officers and committee members. In addition a massive amount of credit has to go to Dan Warden our outgoing Secretary who contributed so much to the area before personal commitments meant that he had to stand down from his position. Again speaking personally it gives me a tremendous boost to do more for the area so that I feel I can justify being short-listed to myself. It is also gratifying to know that the efforts that have been made have been recognised. That all sounds incredibly ingratiating which is not the intention. In a nutshell receiving the nomination was a very pleasant surprise but is not something I would have received without a lot of hard work from other people."