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On Thursday, 28 November, Voluntary Support North Surrey proudly hosted the annual Surrey Heath Volunteer Awards in partnership with Surrey Heath Borough Council at Chobham Golf Club. These awards bring our incredible volunteering community together to recognise and celebrate their dedication and selflessness.
We were honoured to welcome the Mayor of Surrey Heath, Councillor Sarbie Kang, who presented awards to the winners in front of an audience of over 100 inspiring individuals and organisations.
This year, we received a record number of nominations, making the task of selecting winners a challenging one for our judging panel. Each story showcased the remarkable strength, commitment, and compassion of Surrey Heath’s voluntary sector, highlighting the true spirit of community.
This year, we took a new approach to the Long Service Award. Rather than selecting a single winner, we recognised all nominees for their exceptional commitment to volunteering. Each recipient was presented with an award to honour their invaluable contributions, ensuring their dedication received the recognition it so greatly deserves.
Congratulations to all our winners and a heartfelt thanks to every nominee, as well as the countless volunteers across Surrey Heath who give their time and energy to support others.
We wanted to give a special thanks also to Surrey Heath Borough Council for their support, to Chobham Golf Club for their hospitality, and to Councillor Sarbie Kang for joining us on this special afternoon.
We invite you to learn more about our winners and their incredible achievements below. Photos of the award winners are to follow.
Winner of the Unsung Hero Award
“Tekbahadur has served the Camberley Nepalese (Gurkha) Association in an exemplary manner for several years. Throughout, he has been an extremely forward thinking, diligent and dedicated individual and a fantastic ambassador and a role model for our community. Humble, but immensely proud of his military service, he epitomises all that is required of our finest Officers.
He has exceptional leadership and development talent that has helped enhance the cohesion between the Nepalese community and the wider community here in Surrey Heath. This has played a crucial part in the success of community cohesion. Extremely active in the community, he has assisted many community members and their families in tackling their problems, providing support and to work together for a positive future. He has taught English, organised workshop and training and is the lead for several activities such as Drop-In Session, Coffee Afternoon, walks and many others that take place weekly within the community. All of which is planned, coordinated, and delivered by him. His commitment extends beyond the confines of the community; his wider contribution has been significant. He is also a trustee member for Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum. He has devoted much of his own time, and often resources, focusing on helping others who are less fortunate. His efforts have helped improved the lives of our members, especially the vulnerable and senior members. I have never meet anyone who works as hard as him and has made a real
impact on our community.
Major (Retd) Tekbahadur Gurung is a shining example to others and his utterly selfless approach deserves a formal recognition.”
Winner of the Inspirational Volunteer Award
“Rose Cutler is a true inspiration, as she has been our main office volunteer since July 2017. Now a sprightly 81 years old, her previous career saw 28 years with Surrey Heath Borough Council as a helpful, organised, kind & capable employee. We were delighted when she join our team and she has been irreplaceable ever since.
Her unwavering self assured willingness to support the management team has kept us grounded through many trials the charity has faced. Rose has remained supportive, tenacious and always reliable and brings a level of wisdom that is unprecedented! She is a forward thinker and embraces new technology and is incredible at using these skills to process the day to day admin/finance tasks that pass through the charity office.
She always goes the extra mile, especially at our events, whether collecting for the charity or the POLLY’S PLACE stalls, standing on her feet for long periods of time in all weathers. She enjoys working with the children & families at our Lego & craft clubs and embraces our services users with autism in the kindest and most supportive way, making them feel valued just in the way she connects with them.
I can truly say that we would be lost without her and she is a truly wonderful lady and such an inspiration to me and everyone else at the charity. She is an exemplar of modesty but she so deserves to be recognised for the inspirational volunteer that she is.”
Winner of the New Volunteer Award
“Elva has been volunteering with Camberley Care for the last year. From day one she has been a very positive member of our volunteer drivers’ team and will endeavour to help with trips whenever she can.
Elva will even call on a Monday morning to ask if there are any outstanding trips for the week ahead as she has some spare time so will be happy to help. Elva also started volunteering with another charity at the same time and has been an asset to this team as well. She has a very positive and cheery attitude that our clients love. She is a wonderful volunteer.”
Winners of the Long-Service Award (10+ Years)
This year we took a new approach to the Long Service Awards. Instead of selecting one winner for this category, we recognised and presented an award to all nominees for their outstanding commitment. We felt it important that they all receive the recognition they so richly deserve.
This year’s recipients of the Long Service Award (10+ years) are:
Winner of the Volunteer Team Award
The Camberley Alzheimer Café has, for over a decade, been a lifeline for local residents with dementia and their carers, holding monthly events that provide invaluable respite, joy, and support. Each gathering at St. Martin’s Church is a vibrant experience designed to engage all five senses, from colourful decor and fragrant cooking to music and dancing.
Volunteers, including parking marshals, create a welcoming and safe environment, while meals offer carers a chance to relax. The team’s holistic approach also includes education on dementia, guidance on accessing support, and strengthening bonds within the dementia community. By consistently fostering understanding and uplifting spirits, the Camberley Alzheimer Café has enriched the lives of many in Surrey Heath and truly embodies the spirit of collaborative community service.
Winner of the Engagement in the Community Award
Alcon Eyecare in Watchmoor Park Camberley have long been proactive at engaging staff in annual volunteering activities and this year saw particularly high numbers of staff supporting local charities both as part of their annual “Alcon in Action” day and at other times of the year when volunteering has been included as a key part of wider team meetings. As well as volunteering, this year saw their teams prepare 100 gift bags for the Hope Hub to support their work locally.
Winner of the Fundraiser of the Year Award
Sarah Wesley has been a dedicated and innovative fundraiser for The Hope Hub, with her “Open Gardens” event becoming a significant success in both community engagement and financial support. Organised bi-annually, this event invites residents to showcase their gardens, drawing the community together and raising nearly £3,000 this year alone. Sarah’s meticulous planning, from coordinating with hosts to setting up ticketing, ensured a seamless experience that highlighted The Hope Hub’s mission. Her work has not only provided essential funds but has also raised awareness of the charity’s work, making her a deserving candidate for Fundraiser of the Year.
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