Royal Borough Volunteer Awards honour community 'superheroes'

'Superheroes’ of the community have been honoured by the Royal Borough at a special awards ceremony at Maidenhead Town Hall.

The Royal Borough Volunteer Awards on Tuesday recognised the efforts of 35 volunteers for their service to their communities.

The event was organised by the Royal Borough and WAM Get Involved, which provides a register through which residents and community workers can find ways to volunteer with groups in their area.

Before the presentation of the Volunteer of the Year awards, Ramesh Kukar, chief executive officer of WAM Get Involved, said: “When we were judging it felt like we were judging different superheroes and it’s very hard to decide.

“Who you think is the better superhero, Batman or Superman?”

Former swimming coach Pat Capp was given the WAM Get Involved Community Volunteer of the Year award for her work with Sequela Foundation – which she set up in 2012 to help people suffering from neurological conditions after being diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, a rare strain of Multiple Sclerosis.

The RBWM Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Yvonne Conroy for her efforts with Street Angels in Windsor, who patrol the streets on Friday nights, helping vulnerable people. The Street Angels were also recognised in the community safety category.

Opening the awards ceremony, Cllr Christine Bateson (Con, Sunningdale), cabinet member for community partnerships and neighbourhood planning and a member of the judging panel, said: “There were so many awards it was difficult to decide who gets them.

“I would also like to say that volunteering is very important, as is working for our partnerships and encouraging more people to get involved.

“We cannot do anything in the council without volunteers.”

Speaking after the presentation, Mr Kukar seconded Cllr Bateson's comments, adding: “I think there’s so much volunteering that happens in the borough and we just need to take a moment to recognise that and all the good these people do.”

W Windsor Street Angels are still looking for volunteers.

Contact Karen McCabe wcastreetangels@gmail.com or on 07976 478426 for more information.

The winners: 

RBWM Volunteer of the Year: Yvonne Conroy

Highly Commended: Andrea Roberts

WAM Get Involved Community Volunteer of the Year: Pat Capp

Highly Commended: Andy Hunter

Highly Commended: Joan Poolman

WAM Get Involved Community Young Volunteer of the Year: Sam Hester

Other RBWM Winners:

Adopt a Street: Brenda Pollock

Community Safety: Yvonne Conroy

Libraries & Heritage: Mena Trethewey

Other Departments/Services: Kristina Hohenauer

Street Awards:

Best Kept Community Street

Winner: Rushington Avenue, Maidenhead

Highly Commended: Clewer Avenue, Windsor

Best Kept Street

Winner: Murray Court, Sunninghill

Highly Commended: Briar Dene, Furze Platt, Maidenhead