February had a spring in its step at The Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy on Thursday 23rd of February at the fabulous Wicklow Volunteer Awards!
Over 190 people watched as volunteers from across Wicklow were presented with awards for their outstanding service to the community. While there were winners in the 11 award categories, the evening celebrated every nominee and every volunteer in Wicklow.
The strength of the Wicklow volunteering community could be felt in the laughter and chat in the Parkview hotel as the ceremony took place. Organised by the County Wicklow Volunteer Centre and supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Wicklow County Council, sponsors of prizes included SSE Renewables, DNG Wicklow Town, AnniePooh, Fishers of Newtownmountkennedy, The Ultrasound Suite and County Wicklow Public Participation Network.
The winners from a packed field were:
• Local Volunteer Arklow MD – Laura Coey – Arklow Sea Scouts
• Local Volunteer Baltinglass MD – Jason Mulhall, Blessington Tidy Towns
• Local Volunteer Bray MD – Joe Fitzpatrick, Bray Community First Responders
• Local Volunteer MTMK/Greystones MD – Ciara Perks – Newtownmountkennedy Community Forum
• Local Volunteer Wicklow MD – Ann Lyons, Croi Rath Naoi
• Volunteer Under 18 – Xavier Alexander – Bray Tidy Towns
• Innovative Environmental Project Volunteer – Clare Hayter RHSI, Russborough Gardens
• Corporate Volunteer Team – Elavon Ukrainian Support Team
• Ukrainian Response Award – Anne Byrne & Siobhan Launders, Road to Lough Dan
• Volunteer Team Award – The Gardening Team, Wicklow Hospice
• Volunteer from a migrant, asylum-seeking, refugee community – Vumani Moyo, Bray Tidy Towns