On Friday 2 June, Merton Connected held it’s 8th annual ‘Merton Partnership Civic Pride Volunteer Awards’, sponsored by Merton Council. The Borough’s annual celebration acknowledges and give thanks to the tremendous contribution that local volunteers make to the life of the Borough.
The awards were handed out by newly crowned Mayor of Merton, Councillor Gill Manly to all our winners on the night.
This year there were fourteen award categories:
Volunteer Manager of the Year
Winner: Ellie Standeven – Polka Theatre
In recognition of a volunteer manager who shows commitment to best practice supporting volunteers, including volunteer involvement, recruitment, induction, training, personal development, rewards and recognition.
Runners up: Alison Edwards (22nd Wimbledon Scout Group) and Sub Lieutenant Jamie Rolfe (SCC) RNR (Merton Sea Cadets)
Employee Volunteer of the Year Award
Winners: Charlotte Pugh – (KPB Law) and Sital Somaiya (Signature Law)
This award recognises a business, public authority or organisation that has donated employee time to benefit Merton’s communities or environment. The award can be made to an individual employee, a team or cohort of employee volunteers.
Runners up: Domestic and General and Coty UK.
Young Volunteer Team of the Year
Winners: It’s Not Too Late Exhibition Team (Filmanthropy) and Shine Peer Mentoring Team (Cricket Green School)
This award recognises a team of 3 or more young people (under 19) who have taken action to make a difference to the local environment and/or lives of residents of the London Borough of Merton.
Volunteer Team of the Year
Winner: Songs on Wheels
In recognition of a team of 3 or more people who have taken action to make a difference to the local environment and/or lives of residents of the London Borough of Merton.
Runner ups: Home Food Cafe, Wimbledon Guild and Merton Centre for Independent Living
Young Environmental Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Alexander Mallett (Wimbledon Common Nature Club)
Young Environmental Team of the Year
Winners: Young Park Patrollers, AURORA Centre and Merton College
These awards recognises young volunteers that care about the environment, climate change and open spaces, and/or show enthusiasm to engage local residents and communities with the natural environment.
Environmental Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Laura Collins (Friends of Figges Marsh)
In recognition of local individuals who volunteer to enhance and protect our local environment, whether that be individuals involved in Friends of parks, open spaces, or those who give up their time to monitor the quality of the local air or campaign around climate change.
Runners up: Kelly Gunnell (Friends of Garfield Recreation Park) and Dawn Canham (Wimbledon Guild)
Young Sports Club Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Sam Priest (Wimbledon Park Sailing Club)
In recognition of a young sports club volunteer who dedicates their time and is committed to ensuring that Merton residents can enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity.
The Paul Smithurs Sports Club Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Kacey Berry (AFC Wimbledon)
In recognition of a sports club volunteer who dedicates their time and is committed to ensuring that Merton residents can enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity, giving them the opportunity to feel more motivated, confident and healthy.
Runners up: Wez Marchese (Morden Little League) and Timmy Robson (HDW Sports)
The Eric Leppard Long Service Award
Winner: Ken Jones (Mitcham Cricket Juniors)
This award is in recognition of individuals volunteering with one or more local organisations for atleast 8 years.
Runners up: Eric Shaw (Wandle Industrial Museum) and Gina Vettesse (Merton Centre of Independent Living)
Outstanding Contribution Award
Winner: Paul Macarthy (Merton Vision)
This award recognises the contribution made by individuals to their community, either through the volume of volunteering they undertake and/or through displaying a high level of commitment and dedication.
Runners up: Susan Bowman (Age UK Merton) and Andy Yates (The Walk and Talk Movement)
Public Service Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Sema Ocakoglu (Wimbledon Library)
This award is in recognition of volunteers who dedicate their time to support local public services and ensure that as a Borough we continue to provide a breadth of community based services, such as our libraries.
Runners up: Ken Lehman (Wimbledon Library) and Mary Butler (Mitcham Library)
The Cllr Maxi Martin Young Volunteer of the Year Award
Winner: Ryan Curtis (Morden Little League)
This award is given to an exemplary young volunteer, who not only shows dedication and commitment, perhaps overcoming their own adversity, but always goes the extra mile to support local charitable work and the local community.
Runners up: Martha Thompson (Wimbledon Library) and Chelsea Irvin (Cricket Green Special School)
The Chris Frost Volunteer of the Year Award
Winner: Christine Hall (Wimbledon Foodbank)
This award is given to an exemplary volunteer, who not only shows dedication and commitment, perhaps overcoming their own adversity, but always goes the extra mile to support local charitable work and the local community.
Runners up: Bradley Kelly (Age UK Merton) and Liam O’Connor (Wimbledon Guild)
Coronation Award 2023
Winners: Lesley Bixby (Scouts Association), Harry Green (Merton Pisces Swimming Club), Andy Butcher (Morden Little League), Gary Baker (23rd Mitcham Scouts Group), Keith Postance (Endeavor Youth Club), Dons Local Action Group, Nicky Winter (Veterans Community Choirs CIC UK), Brian Dillon (Merton Connected), Shirley Ward (Ursuline High School), Margaret Kenny (Ursuline High School)
In this Coronation Year, it seems fitting to acknowledge a number of individuals who, like our new King, embody the ethos of serviam. Serviam is the Latin term for “to serve”. The individuals being recognised by this award have dedicated a lifetime to serving others.
Cabinet Member for Civic Pride, Councillor Eleanor Stringer, said:
Congratulations to all the winners on your awards. It was an honour to be on the selection committee because your hard work, commitment, and dedication have both amazed and humbled us.
I also want to also say a massive well done to all those who were nominated, and I hope the recognition tonight shows that your work has not gone unnoticed.
We sponsor these awards because we believe that volunteers are the backbone to our community, and we want to show our gratitude to those who do so much to contribute to the community.”
Congratulation to all the winners and everyone who was nominated on the night for your amazing achievements.