JVN was delighted to host the Wohl JVN Volunteering Awards at JW3 on Monday 8th September. Volunteers in nine different categories were recognised and rewarded for giving their time to help others both inside and outside the Jewish community. The event was attended by over 200 shortlisted nominees, charity representatives and special guests, and was compèred by Martyn Lewis CBE, renowned broadcaster and journalist and Chairman of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
Members of the independent judging panel (L-R) Lady Lira Winston, Rosalind Preston OBE and Daniela Pears with Chairman of the Children's Aid Committee Marc Herman.
Following a reception and dinner for the guests, the evening began with an explanation from Lady Lira Winston of how the independent judging panel has made their “exceptionally difficult decisions” selecting the shortlist from over 100 nominees and then finally the award winners. The awards were then presented by representatives of the sponsoring partners. The awards were:
The CAC 18 and Under Award
The HW Fisher Young Adult Volunteering Award
The Apploi Innovation in Volunteering Award
The Pears Foundation Oversees & International Award
The Bircham Dyson Bell Friend of the Community Award
The Jewish News People’s Choice Award
The Judy Citron Lifetime Achievement Award
The Aston Chase Volunteer Team of the Year Award
The Wohl Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award
Stella Lucas MBE, Founder of All Aboard and winner of the Judy Citron Lifetime Achievement Award said that she was “truly speechless” to be honoured with an award named after her good friend and JVN Co-Founder. She also added that, even at 99 years of age, she had “no plans to stop volunteering now!”
All the award winners and shirtlisted nominees.
The Awards were broken up in the middle by questions from the floor to a panel of experts in the volunteering sector. Chaired by JVN President Ros Preston OBE, Martyn Lewis, Shimon Cohen (Founder and Chairman of The PR Office), Nicky Goldman (Director of LEAD) and Ricky Kaplan (Founder and Director of Vscheme) gave their views on issues ranging from the voluntary sector cuts to the Big Society.
A highly successful and enjoyable evening was rounded off by drawing the raffle and, as always, thanks were given to the team of mostly volunteers who had helped make the night itself run so smoothly.
