The Bay of Colwyn Town Council has announced the winners of the Bay of Colwyn Volunteer of the Year Awards for 2024.

The nominations were considered by the Volunteer Awards Committee, which includes representatives from the local community and from Community and Voluntary Support Conwy (CVSC).

Award recipients were invited to the Town Hall on Monday 29th April, with the winners of each category being presented with a slate plaque and certificate by the Town Mayor, Cllr Hannah Fleet. 

Winners of the Bay of Colwyn Volunteer Awards 2024 are: 

Adult (25-64 yrs): Hannah Stant

Adult (65+): Jenny Holland 

Young Person: Sophie Johnson 

Green Group: Friends of Llanelian Cemetery 

The Town Council created a new award in 2019, in memory of a former Town Councillor and Mayor and the first Chairman of the Volunteer Awards Committee, John Davies.

The ‘John Davies Memorial Award for Volunteering’ is presented annually to a volunteer from the Bay of Colwyn Area selected by the Town Mayor.  This year the John Davies Memorial Award for Volunteering 2024 was awarded to The Kind Bay Initiative. 

Highly Commended certificates were also presented to Rowena Brett, Lizzy Day, Graeme Winterbourne and Liz Cocks. 

The Volunteer Awards evening included the presentation of cheques for the large grants awarded by the Town Council for the new financial year, as these also go to local groups or organisations that contribute to the wellbeing of our residents and the wider community. 

Large grants were awarded to Homestart Conwy, Citizen’s Advice, Benefit Advice Shop and Colwyn Bay Conservation & Environment Federation (CBCEF).

Town Mayor, Cllr Hannah Fleet, said: “It is such a privilege to be able to recognise the amazing contribution our volunteers make to our community. They show such kindness, creativity and commitment. They see a need and act, making a real difference. They allow our residents to live their best life. They deserve our heartfelt thanks”. 

Later this year, the Bay of Colwyn Town Council will be inviting nominations for its Volunteer of the Year Awards for 2024/25. There are seven categories for nomination: 

- Young Person (under 25 years), or group of young people - Adult (25-64) - Adult (65 and over) - Green Volunteer or group - Other Group 

- Trustee 

- Additional Category 

Chair of the Volunteer Committee, Cllr Abdul Khan, said: “Every year since 2012 The Bay of Colwyn Town Council gives out Volunteer Awards to the unsung heroes of our community, who contribute tirelessly to make our local community a better place to live. 

“Their support to our local community is invaluable and on behalf of our Town Council and the Volunteer Awards Committee, I like to express our gratitude to all those involved in volunteering work in our area and I would like to continually encourage those voluntary organisations to nominate people who they think are worthy of The Bay of Colwyn Town Council Awards next year”. 

“The deadline for receipt of nominations for our next awards is 31st January 2025.“

Nomination forms and guidelines will be available on-line at www.colwyn-tc.gov.uk or by e-mail request to: info@colwyn-tc.gov.uk.