Volunteers thanked for 5,000 hours of help

Face painting and balloon modelling were on the agenda as part of the celebrations, organised by the Community Youth Project and Sovereign Housing, as way of thanks to the volunteers of the Greater Greenham Project.
Some 35 volunteers received a certificate on the day after their combined volunteering hours exceeded 5,000 in 2012, which community investment co-ordinator at Sovereign Housing, Marcus Franks, said was equivalent to £70,000.
Volunteers for the project perform a number of roles, including assisting at youth clubs and helping to organise and run community events.
Newbury MP Richard Benyon officially opened the community event, held at Greenham Community Centre, and the Mayor of Newbury, Arthur Johnson, presented each of the volunteers with their certificates.
Mr Franks said: “I would like to say thanks to the Community Youth Project for organising another fantastic event with very good attendance, despite the weather.
“We will be looking to do another event next year.”