North East VCS Awards
** THE NEXT ROUND OF AWARDS WILL BE OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS FROM END OF 2012 **
2011 saw the return of the biennial Voluntary and Community Sector Awards for the North East. The awards are designed to recognise the work of individuals and organisations from the voluntary and community sector across the region, in helping to develop and create thriving communities.
We all know of organisations and people who do fantastic work, whether they provide a local gardening scheme or a region-wide training service, daycare for the elderly, or advocacy and support. It doesn’t matter whether they work in a specific neighbourhood or across the whole region, there is an award designed to recognise and celebrate what they contribute to the community.
Winners for 2011!
Here are the results of the North East Voluntary and Community Sector Awards 2011. The awards were presented at a ceremony on the 26th May at the Radisson Hotel in Durham.
Look out for videos of the winners on our YouTube channel shown at the ceremony. All videos and photographs were taken by Amanda Hannen.
Most Exciting Project
Alastair Grimes from Rocket Science presenting award to Helen Tweddle from Building Futures East.
WINNER - Building Futures East
Truth about Youth, Regional Youth Work Unit
Wheels Solution Project, FROG
Campaign of the Year
Pam Hill from SkillShare North East (left) presenting award to Kathleen Stewart and Greg Brown from Thrive.
WINNER - Thrive
Do we look good to you?
Very Important Kids
Volunteer of the Year
Michael Holgate from NatWest (left) presenting award to Jodie hinds, Five Lamps
WINNER - Jodie Hind, Five Lamps
Barbir Noor, Ormesby Hall Cricket Club
Tom Fry, North Tyneside Carers Centre
Trustee of the Year
Barbara Gubbins from County Durham Foundation presenting awards to Frank Benson, Darlington Hospital Radio and Sarah McGovern from Activity Den.
WINNER Joint 1st - Frank Benson, Darlington Hospital Radio
WINNER Joint 1st - Sarah McGovern, Activity Den, Stanley
John Davis, Brainbox
Philip Ward, Blind Voice UK
Outstanding Organisation
Penny Wilkinson (left), Northern Rock Foundation, presenting award to Hannah Eyres from Keyfund.
WINNER - Keyfund
Step Together
Waddinton Street Centre
Young Leader
Rob Williamson from Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland presenting award to Karl Armstrong, The Junction.
WINNER - Karl Armstrong, The Junction
Jess Leighton, Gateshead Youth Assembly
Robert Sherrington, Groundwork NE
Outstanding Leadership
Jo Curry from VONNE presented award to Graeme Oram, Five Lamps.
WINNER - Graeme Oram, Five Lamps
Jayne Butler, Newcastle Law Centre
Dawn McManus, Red Dreams
NEEP 'Empowering Communities' Award
Minna Ireland from NEEP (left) presenting award to Lesley King from Stockton Borough Council.
WINNER - Stockton Borough Council
Councillor Doreen Boyes, Gateshead Council
Most Inspiring Individual
Allison Agius from Catalyst Stockton presenting award to George Glass from Blind Voice UK.
WINNER - George Glass, Blind Voice UK
Read the stories
Download our programme (PDF) with all the stories behind the winners and runners-up.
View videos of our winners
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Previous Winners
"I wish I could have invited all our
volunteers, staff and trustees....All are
overjoyed at the recognition....Has
already started to open numerous
doors for us as an organisation."
Paul Harrison, Bell View (Belford),
winners of Outstanding organisation in
2009.