Volun-Cheers Awards 2025

1. Community Shining Star Award
2. Unsung Hero Award
3. Making a Difference Award
4. Inspiring Volunteer Award
5. Transforming Lives Awards
6. Outstanding Contribution to the University Award
7. Special Recognition Award
8. Exceptional Mentor Award
9. Volunteering Organisation of the Year Award
10. Judging Panel Award
11. Gold Award
12. Volun-tees Panel Award

Important: Please note the following categories and read the guidance notes and criteria before you complete your nomination form

The Volun-Cheers Awards are open to individual volunteers, groups of volunteers and volunteer involving projects that are engaged in Volun-tees, the University volunteer scheme.

• Anyone who nominates an individual or group should inform them that they have done so, and that as part of this process they have been asked to pass on their personal contact details to Volun-tees.
• Nominated volunteers must have achieved at least the Bronze Award to qualify for a nomination.

Nominations must be received by 12.00pm on Friday 4 April 2025. We regret that we cannot accept entries received after this time.

Nominations will be judged by an independent panel. The panel's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

All individuals and organisations nominated will receive a Certificate of Recognition. Please ensure contact addresses are correct.

Invitations to attend the awards, which will take place on Thursday 8 May 2025, will be sent during April 2025 after the final judging has taken place. Due to venue restrictions we must restrict invitations to winners, runners-up, their nominators and associated organisations.

For your nomination to be considered by the judging panel, please ensure that you provide as much information as possible.

Things to consider for volunteer/group/mentor nominations

• Have they had a positive impact on their community, group/club members or service users?
• Have they shown enthusiasm, responsibility and commitment to volunteering?
• Have they been creative or used their own initiative?
• Has their involvement gone beyond what would normally be expected of their role?
• Have they shown determination, initiative or innovation with regards to fundraising?

Things to consider for organisation nominations

• Has the group made a significant impact on, or difference to, the community?
• How has the organisation supported University volunteers?
• Does the organisation properly support and supervise their volunteers?
• Does the organisation develop the capacity and/or skills of their volunteers?
• Is this an outstanding place to volunteer?