The Heart of Salford Awards are Salford CVS and Volunteer Centre Salford’s prestigious annual ceremony to celebrate volunteering and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Salford.

The ceremony held on Wednesday 21st November at the AJ Bell Stadium, acknowledged the vast contribution made by volunteers and VCSE organisations in Salford.

The awards ceremony is a great interactive event with attendees voting live for the winner of each category, from a shortlist compiled by an independent panel of judges. 

With 11 award categories, 140 nominations and over 350 attendees this year was our biggest celebration yet!

The Mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett spoke at the ceremony about the strength of community spirit in Salford as shown by the ever growing participation in the Heart of Salford awards. He also announced the new Spirit of Salford Community Awards, which will be held in March 2019 and celebrate the unique Spirit of Salford.

Thanking volunteers

We know that there are 46,900 volunteers in Salford’s VCSE sector and their contribution is valued at £104.4 million each year and the volunteering Heart of Salford awards recognise the difference individual volunteers make to the people of Salford. 

We heard some truly inspiring stories of the difference volunteers have made to their communities and how volunteering has helped them to overcome challenges in their lives. There were priceless reactions from the award winners with surprise, happy-tears and beaming smiles.

The winners of the volunteering awards were:

The Alan Henning Community Volunteer of the Year - Christine Barker

This award is in memory of Alan Henning. Alan was a local man, a taxi driver from Eccles. He was also a volunteer who made the journey to Syria to deliver much needed supplies to refugees. Alan tragically lost his life whilst there helping those in need.

Young Volunteer of the Year - Malek Abdo

Malek wasn't able to attend the ceremony so his award was accepted by his nominator, pictured with the other shortlisted nominees.

Trustee / Committee Member of the Year - Nick Abbott

Over 55 Volunteer of the Year - Angela Gruby

The Josie Browne Personal Achievement Volunteer of the Year - Charlotte Faragher

This award is in memory of Josie Browne. Josie Browne was a true Salford star! An inspirational and remarkable woman, loved and respected by many. Josie spent a lifetime dedicated to campaigning on behalf of people with disabilities and challenging injustice to make Salford a better place for everyone. A passionate advocate and a formidable woman whose legacy lives on in the work of Salford Disability Forum.

Volunteering Team of the Year - Salford Children's Rights Independent Visitors Service

The volunteers who help to run the Independent Visitors Service are so busy that unfortunately, they couldn't attend the ceremony. Pictured are the 21 other volunteering teams nominated in this category.  

Volunteer of the Year - Charlotte Faragher

Nominees in this category were made up of the winners of the Community, Young, Trustee, Over 55 and Personal Achievement categories. Attendees then voted for their chosen Volunteer of the Year 2018. 

Celebrating the VCSE Sector

The Heart of Salford Awards also celebrate the work done by the 1,512 voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises making a difference in Salford. These organisations made 2.4 million interventions last year to benefit local people and our three organisation award and two project award categories recognise this work.

In each category we witnessed the breadth and diversity of Salford’s VCSE sector, with organisations working to improve people’s lives in Salford and tackle challenges in their local communities.

The winners of the organisation awards were:

Small Community Group of the Year - Singing with Dementia and This Is It Salford

We had our first ever tie with Singing with Dementia and This Is It Salford receiving equal votes. Both were awarded Small Community Group of the Year.

Social Enterprise of the Year - HM Pasties

Charity of the Year - START

The winners of the project awards were:

Innovative Project Award - 'Reach out to End Suicide' campaign

Equalities Award - Art with Heart

You can view all of the photos from the day on the Volunteer Centre Salford facebook page.

Thank you to The Booth Charities and Salix Homes for their grants contributing towards this event:

We would like to express our gratitude to the following five organisations for supporting this event:

Thank you to Jim Taylor, Chief Executive of Salford City Council for his help in securing corporate sponsorship.