Celebrating our volunteers

The Mayor’s Volunteer Awards 2013 is an annual event that celebrates those in our community who have contributed by volunteering. So, if you know someone who gives up their time and energy in the community then this is your chance to recognise them by nominating them for one of this year’s categories.

And the award goes to...

We spoke to one of last year’s winners to find out a little more about what the awards mean. 

Nigel Gray won the 2012 award for Individual Trustee for Radio Redhill, a hospital radio station for East Surrey Hospital. Nigel is Chairman of Radio Redhill and is responsible for maintaining and improving the quality of the station’s broadcasting output. He was recognised for all of the additional work he does for the station.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

Achieving high standards of broadcasting. We’ve won 45 national Hospital Radio Awards. We strive to provide the very best possible service to our hospital listeners and this is only achieved by concentrating on the training of members on an ongoing basis. I take my part in the training and enjoy encouraging the newer members to achieve high standards, which, in turn, gives them great satisfaction.

What did being nominated for a Mayor’s Volunteer Award mean to you?

I did not expect to be nominated and I was grateful for the recognition that the award gave to the contribution that I and other members of Radio Redhill have given to the hospital community - and in fact to the local community as a whole - for many years.

Why do you think recognising our volunteers is so important?

So many aspects of the community are enhanced by the contribution made willingly by so many volunteers. East Surrey Hospital, in particular, benefits enormously in so many ways by the volunteers who work there in many capacities. The Volunteer Awards give recognition to that volunteering effort, encourage the winners to carry on with the good work and hopefully persuade others to either carry on start volunteering. 

Nominations are now open

Nominations are open now and will close on Friday 7 June. If there's someone you think should be recognised, nomination couldn't be easier! It can all be done electronically - visit the Mayor's Awards page on our website for the online form and for more information.