Charities and volunteers to be championed at Greenham Trust inaugural awards

Charities and volunteers will be celebrated at Greenham Trust’s inaugural awards.

And there is still time to nominate an unsung hero for the individual awards.

The evening was designed to acknowledge and reward the great work of local charitable organisations, volunteers and fundraisers to improve the lives of others in West Berkshire and North Hampshire.

The event, which was launched in June, will be held at the Corn Exchange on Thursday, November 2.

It is an opportunity for everyone to get together, collaborate and celebrate the incredible achievements of the voluntary sector.

Awards will be given for a number of categories.

For the volunteer awards: Trustee of the year, voluntary fundraiser of the year and volunteer of the year.

And for the charity awards: Charity of the year for the disadvantaged community charity of the year, health and wellbeing charity of the year, young people charity of the year and small charity of the year.

The evening will culminate with the announcement of the overall charity of the year.

Entries to make nominations are open until September 15 and can be made at greenhamtrust.com/awards

Tickets are free but there is a cost for entry to the after party. Tickets can be bought at https://tinyurl.com/328t3c86

Greenham Trust chief executive Chris Boulton said: “We are delighted with the high number of applications we have already received.

“The last few years have been particularly tough in the voluntary sector with the Covid pandemic and cost-of-living crisis and we feel it’s important for everyone to get together and celebrate their fantastic work.

“There is no similar event in West Berkshire and we are hoping that this will become a regular fixture on the calendar.

“This should be an event that everyone in the voluntary sector will wish to attend.”

After the ceremony at the Corn Exchange, there will be an Oscars style after party at the Waterside Centre with food, drinks and entertainment.

The awards will be hosted by cleric, broadcaster, author and former Communard Rev Richard Coles.

The headline sponsor for the awards will be Newbury Building Society.

Newbury Building Society marketing and communications manager Emma Gentry said: “We are extremely proud to have been invited to be the headline sponsor of the inaugural Greenham Trust Charity Awards.

“Greenham Trust has long been a force for good in the West Berkshire area, and their support of the community aligns very closely with our values as a mutual organisation.

“We are very much looking forward to recognising and celebrating the fantastic and tireless work of our local charities, community groups and volunteers.”