Town & Country Foundation celebrates local volunteers with awards

Volunteering and community spirit was celebrated at a special awards ceremony.

More than 100 people attended the Val Joy Community Awards one of 14 events in Tunbridge Wells that celebrated National Volunteers Week.

The awards were organised by Town & Country Foundation, which is part of Tunbridge Wells based Town & Country Housing Group.

Local communities were asked to nominate people and groups that carry out some kind of unpaid work that benefits a group of individuals or whole communities.

The awards were named after tenant Val Joy, who sadly passed away last year but made a huge difference to her local community in Sherwood, Tunbridge Wells, as well as being a tenant representative for the housing association.

Categories included Young Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Community Group of the Year and Community Champion of the Year.

After the prizes were given out, the party went on into the evening as guests enjoyed the surprise entertainment - line dancing.

Community Champion of the Year Polly Taylor, who was recognised for her work at a local cancer drop-in centre, said: Val has brought us so much joy tonight. Its such a shame that I have been picked out because everyone here is such a wonder. We must say a big thank you to Town & Country - they are the ones who we can recognise tonight for making a big difference to local life.

Community Investment Officer Dawn Grant said: It was a very emotional evening and wonderful to be able to acknowledge people in the community. Some of these people have been volunteering their time for many years but this is the first time they have been thanked publicly. Following the events success we will be holding the event every year.