VOLUNTEERS in the Upper Amman and Swansea Valley have been celebrated at an awards night.

Organised by the Council for Voluntary Service for Neath Port Talbot, the Volunteer Star Awards took place at Cwmgors RFC where volunteers were recognised for helping to make their communities better places to live.

In total, 25 awards were presented to individual volunteers and community groups.

Volunteers were praised for their efforts in running and setting up activities such old age groups, community transport, food banks and various services for young people including the new fire cadets scheme in the area.

There was three special recognition awards presented to Martin Harries for his coaching with the Short Mat Bowls group in Cwmllynfell, Mari Thomas who has given well over forty years of her time to volunteering and Y Lolfa Gwaun Cae Gurwen library for the vital resource it offers the community.

Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Gwaun Cae Gurwen choir provided the entertainment for the guests on the night.

Gaynor Richards, Director of Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service, said “This is your community and as public services, we are privileged to work alongside you, helping to create the kind of community you would want to live in”.

The ceremony was a part of the Building Safe and Resilient Communities (BSRC) programme, which focuses on developing the strengths of a community. It aims to utilise the skills and knowledge of individual residents, the support offered by community groups and the use of key community assets.

The programme is a pilot for delivering an alternative approach to solving problems in the community instead of relying on traditional services provided by organisations such as the council and health services.

It is considered that using key resources in the community will help to reduce the demand and costs placed on public sector organisations.

The BSRC programme has been endorsed by the Neath Port Talbot Public Service Board, which brings together leaders and decision makers from public sector organisations, and the voluntary and community sector. Members of the Board include Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service, Neath Port Talbot Council, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Natural Resources Wales, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Tai Tarian, NPTC Group of Colleges, South Wales Police and Public Health Wales.

The full list of winners were:

Individuals

Sarah Downer, Neath Port Talbot Carers Service

Martin Harries, Cwmllynfell Bowls Club

Anthony Hall, Y Lolfa GCG Community Library

Brian Humphries, Brynnaman OAPs

Katie Jenkins, Mess Up the Mess

Mike Smith, Amman Valley Railways Society

Mari Thomas, Cwmgors Old Age

Donna Thomas, Hopeless Hope

Darren Thomas, Cwmgors RFC

Edward White, Neath Port Talbot Carers Service

Groups

Amman Valley Fire Service Cadets Instructors

Amman Valley Food Bank

Amman Valley Mens Shed

Amman Valley Trotting Club

Brynaman Parkrun

Busy Rascalls Toddler Group

Gwaun Cae Gurwen Old Age

Gwaun Cae Gurwen Brass Band

Maerdy Food Hub

Maerdy Youth

Neuadd Cwmllynfell Committee

Parc Howard Pony Club

Upper Amman Valley Community Transport

Y Lolfa GCG Community Library Volunteer Librarians

Y Lolfa Teen Reading Hacks