Yesterday evening (Tuesday 21 May) saw the inaugural Stockport Rocks Volunteer Awards ceremony. 

The awards aimed to celebrate the hard work of the dedicated volunteers across the borough, who work for free in their own time.

The volunteers cover a huge range of services between them, and contribute an estimated £105m to the Stockport economy each year. 

Winners and runners-up were chosen in 10 different categories, each decided by public vote. 

The winners were as follows:

• Volunteer Mentor Award - Carol Potts, Beechwood Cancer Care
• Health and Wellbeing Award - Steve Hall, Banter and Brews
• Climate Action Award - Agnes Pimblett, Friends of Heaton Norris Park 
• Community Inclusion Award - Paul Goddard & Jimmy Glinden, Brinnington Park Leisure Complex 
• Good Neighbour Award - Sarah Hardy, Offerton Community Kitchen AND Anne Holland, Starting Point, wins special recognition. 
• Corporate Volunteer Programme Award - Datesand Ltd
• Unsung Hero Award - Andrew Roughley, Roughley's Bike Show
• Long Service Award - Marjorie Bennett, Girlguiding
• Young Volunteers Award - Elizabeth Nichols, ARC
• Volunteer Team Award - Dementia Disco and The Wellspring 

A massive congratulations to the winners, but also to all other volunteers across the borough, too numerous to mention but whose work keeps Stockport going.

Winners picked up their awards on stage, presented by members of the sponsoring businesses (Image - Alasdair Perry)

The ceremony was presented by Stockport County chairman Steve Bellis, and featured other keynote speakers including Cllr Mark Hunter - leader of Stockport Council - and Steve Oliver, CEO of musicMagpie. 

Introducing the ceremony, Steve Bellis asked "Where would we be without volunteers?", and added: "I've never been as honoured to present an event as I have been this evening".

Cllr Mark Hunter said: "I'm very pleased and very proud to be part of this amazing celebration, for those members of our communities who volunteer time, expertise and skills across Stockport."

Cllr Hunter added: "This is a great time for Stockport. [...] [The] success is due in no small part to the generosity of volunteers across the borough.

"Volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities. [...] They offer a unique range of perspectives and skills to make a difference to local people in Stockport."

The ceremony was the first of its kind in the borough - given its success yesterday evening, there is every chance it might return next year, to recognise more extraordinary people. 

(Also, a special thanks to the ladies from OWLS and the gents from CERA Cycloan for keeping the editor company during the evening!)

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