Llwynhendy Volunteer Highly Commended at CAVS Volunteer Centre Awards Evening 2008

Llwynhendy volunteer Tina Miles' efforts have been recognised at the CAVS Volunteer Centre Awards Evening 2008 where she was Highly Commended for the WCVA Wales Volunteer of the Year Award.

Tina volunteers with a range of community groups in the Llwynhendy Communities First ward and helps out with Communities First activities and events. Tina was nominated by Michelle Batten, who used to work in the Llwynhendy Communities First team.

Tina's voluntary activities and the spirit with which she volunteers are encapsulated in her nomination testimony:

Tina is involved in a wide range of Communities First Llwynhendy activities. She helps out with a club for under 7’s, a day club for over 7’s, a food cooperative and plays in the Samba Band. They can always rely on her to be there whatever they are doing. Tina is a true star that they couldn’t do without. She is also the office cleaner and keeps all the staff in order! They have seen her grow in confidence over the last few years and they really appreciate her contribution.

Tina is a key volunteer within Llwynhendy Communities First. She gets everyone involved by telling them what’s going on. She’s always the first to help set up at events and the last to leave. She always gives 100% and cannot do enough to help.

Tina Miles is presented with her certificate by Hywel Gwynfryn

Tina with Llwynhendy Communities First Development Officers Lindy Butler (left) and Gillian Handscomb (right)

Tina, Lindy and Gillian with international rugby referee Nigel Owens (left) and Welsh TV and radio personality Hywel Gwynfryn (right), who were both presenting awards and certificates at the evening

Lindy tells us what groups Tina is involved with

Tina tells us about her evening at the Volunteer Awards

The 2008 Awards Evening was held on Tuesday at The Mountain Gate near Ammanford. The evening was a celebration of volunteering in Carmarthenshire. Certificates for four volunteering award schemes were presented at the event: CAVS Volunteering Awards 2008; WCVA Wales Volunteer of the Year; Millennium Volunteer programme; CAVS Volunteer Centre Training course.

This year's Awards Evening saw the first CAVS Volunteering Awards. Nominations were invited under four categories: Volunteer of the Year (over 25); Green Volunteer of the Year; Young Volunteer of the Year (under 25);and the Ray Gravell Memorial Award. The award winners were Vaughan Williams (volunteer Chairman for Llanelli Centre for the Deaf); Denys Smith (volunteer for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales); Sian Edwards (volunteer for Carmarthen Youth Project - Dr Mz); and Barbara Louis (volunteer Parent Mentor for families of young offenders) respectively.

The variety of volunteering activities undertaken by those at the evening and the range of volunteers' ages showed how active and diverse the volunteering sector in Carmarthenshire is. The bringing together of people with a like-minded sense of altruism made for a very enjoyable evening for all.

For more information on the CAVS Volunteer Centre see CAVS' website and click on 'Volunteering'. For a list of current volunteering opportunities registered with the CAVS Volunteer Centre, see their pages on the Volunteering Wales website.

Fresh 'n' Fruity Launches in Llwynhendy

Llwynhendy Communities First launched a new Food Co-op on Thursday 10 January. It's called Fresh 'n' Fruity and will be open every Thursday at Llwyn yr Ynys residential complex for people to pick up their fruit, salad or veg bags. The bags need to ordered and paid for one week in advance and currently cost £2.50 a bag. Opening times are 10am to 1pm.



From left to right: Communities First Liaison Officer Adele Evans, Gillian Handscomb and Aled Davies from Llwynhendy Communities First, Llwyn yr Ynys resident Beatrice Dean and Warden Lynette Williams.

A food co-op is a simple system through which you can access fresh fruit, salad and vegetables on a weekly basis at affordable prices. Local produce is accessed as much as possible (quality and price permitting) benefiting and encouraging local farmers. Local sourcing means that more of the money you spend is kept within the region and food miles are reduced.