New awards scheme for volunteers

The West Berkshire Community Champion Awards were given the go-ahead by the district council last week and will include three awards: volunteer of the year, community group of the year and lifetime achievement.
Presentations are expected to be made to recipients at meetings of full council each December, although this is yet to be confirmed.
The executive portfolio holder for communities at West Berkshire Council, Graham Pask (Con, Bucklebury) said: “I have long thought that we should recognise some of the work being done in West Berkshire.
“I’m proposing that we should have an annual event like the Junior Citizen Awards to recognise and reward the work done by volunteers as individuals and groups.”
He added that the winners would be awarded a certificate and medallion, the cost of which would be met by the chairman’s allowance.
The independent panel, which assists in judging the Junior Citizen of the Year Award, which is also run by West Berkshire Council and a representative from the Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, will help to review nominations.