THE?county’s most dedicated volunteers were recognised by the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisation (GAVO) at a special awards ceremony in Llangybi last Thursday.

The annual Volunteer Achievement Awards, hosted by GAVO and Monmouthshire County Council, pay tribute to individuals, groups and companies that give up their time and skills to help others in the community. They cover a wide range of activities, from youth initiatives to gardening and recycling projects, with recipients of all ages from across the county.

Joint winners this year in the Adult Volunteer category, sponsored by Carling in the Community, were Tony Kear, chair of Usk in Bloom and Andrew Cave of Caldicot Community Garden.

Tony had just returned from Canada where Usk in Bloom had won its first global award.

Monmouthshire County Council chairman’s award and also the Personal Journey award (sponsored by Rogiet Community Council) went to Dafydd Williams, who volunteers with Chepstow-based Monmouthshire Upcycle. Highly commended for his Personal Journey was Daniel Fennel of Charter Building Maintenance.

The award for Corporate Social Responsibility went to Brad Watson and Scott Davies of Archenfield Insurance in Church Street, Monmouth - who are released from work each week to volunteer within the community.

Scott now visits an elderly gentleman in Usk who was feeling very lonely and isolated and they have built up a strong friendship. Scott’s visit has become the gentleman’s ‘highlight of the week’.

Brad meanwhile is a Trustee at Bridges Centre, bringing his expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm to the centre to help them grow for the future.

Peter Griffiths, who volunteers with Severn View Residential Home and Day Care Centre in Chepstow, was highly commended in the Inspirational Volunteer category.

The Environmental Volunteering award was won by Colin Jones of Gwent Wildlife Trust, with Marcus Perrin of Transition Chepstow and Transition Food Group highly commended.

Highly commended in the Young Volunteer category, sponsored by Gwent Police, was Kyle Aitken from Volunteering for Well-being - a project based at Bridges in Monmouth, which recruits, trains and supports volunteers to provide support to others in the community.

Two members of Monmouth’s Attik Junior Club – Naomi Roberts and Lucy Powell – were also highly commended in the Volunteer Group category. They were nominated by youth leader Pip Jenkins.

Launched in 2001 the Attik youth centre provides young people with a safe place to socialise supported by professional youth workers.

Now based in the Library Annexe in Whitecross Street, the Attik’s facilities are free to all young people aged 11 to 25 years.

Staffed by youth workers employed by MCC’s Youth Service it offers a wide range of activities, trips, workshops and on-site services including counselling and a young people’s health clinic.

Clare Watkins, GAVO Volunteering Team Manager said: “This annual event is a great celebration of the endless spirit, enthusiasm and dedication of our thriving third sector in the county and I am pleased to be working collaboratively with Monmouthshire County Council in providing support for all our active citizens and showing our appreciation of their hard work and commitment.”

To find out more about volunteering opportunities go to gwent.volunteering-wales.net or call the Monmouthshire Volunteer Centre on 01633 241566.