Nominate local volunteers for a prestigious Reigate & Banstead Volunteer Award

An incredible 700 people in the borough of Reigate & Banstead volunteered at some point in the past year to help the local communities respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Today, at the start of national Volunteers’ Week, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is launching its newly branded Reigate & Banstead Volunteer Awards to celebrate the role of the borough’s many volunteers and show appreciation for their time and commitment to helping others.

Individuals and teams can be nominated in five categories, including a brand-new Crisis Response Volunteer category, to recognise those individuals who supported the local community to ensure vital services and support, such as food, medicine and calls to vulnerable residents, were delivered to members of the community during the pandemic.

Mayor of Reigate & Banstead, Cllr Jill Bray, said: “Never has volunteering been more important than it is now. It’s thanks to the selfless contributions from many individuals in our borough that our most vulnerable communities have felt supported and looked after in some of the most challenging of circumstances.”

The annual award scheme, now in its eighteenth year, was set up to recognise the unrewarded heroes who do a great amount of valuable work for the borough and its community and to show appreciation for their selfless service. The scheme is organised by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council in partnership with Voluntary Action Reigate and Banstead (VARB) and were previously called the Mayor’s Volunteer Awards.

Alisdair Semple, Trustee of VARB, said: “In our charity’s 25-year history, we have not seen anything like the multi-generational response to help and support those most in need that we’ve seen in the past year.

“What an incredible time to shine a spotlight on those that served, to note something of their contributions and to celebrate the silver-linings of generosity and kindness under pressure that have been shown by so many.”

To nominate, visit www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/volunteer-awards or email mayor@reigate-banstead.gov.uk to request a nomination form. Alternatively, contact VARB by emailing info@varb.org.uk or calling 01737 763156. 

The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 30 June 2021. Successful nominees will be invited to a special awards ceremony in September, subject to Government guidelines at the time.

In honour of Volunteers Week (1-7 June), a number of events are taking place to thank volunteers around the borough. The Mayor will be hosting Thank You Teas with groups of volunteers throughout the week. She will also be attending a virtual event on Wednesday 2 June, organised by Reigate and Redhill u3a, in collaboration with VARB, Age Concern Banstead and the Council, to celebrate the contribution of volunteers to the community.