DUNKIRK and Lenton Partnership Forum works with residents, volunteers and other organisations to improve the area, help community projects and support the development of the community and voluntary sector.

The awards for volunteers started as a way of formally thanking and recognising the huge and invaluable contribution made to the area and its organisations.

Groups ranging from the Ear foundation, to Activ8 Uth, Tommy's and the Crocus gallery are all reliant on the good will, energy and commitment of volunteers.

The Forum is instrumental in volunteer recruitment and organising many community events involving voluntary groups.

Some volunteers begin helping out for a few hours a week and then become an integral part of an organisation.

Many groups including ours are governed by volunteers who carry out lots of the unseen work essential to the running of any charity or community group. Volunteering is a fantastic way of helping people develop their talents or skills.

I have seen volunteers come in lacking in confidence who struggle to speak in a group who then bloom and become advocates for others, or even lead groups.

The awards were an opportunity for members of the community to nominate the individuals and groups they wanted to thank.

We were delighted to receive so many nominations and due to the strength of feeling in the nominators we decided we could not choose between them all, so gave awards to all.

We combined the awards with our AGM as this was a way of bringing together our members, trustees and all the volunteers.

We would like to make the awards an annual event and we are always happy to support people wanting to volunteer throughout the year.

We have opportunities at the Forum ranging from canal clean-ups to consultations, but we work with each individual to find a placement appropriate to their interests, whether it's helping run an art gallery or serving food.

Call the Forum on 0115 9150090 or e-mail forum@dunkirkandlenton.co.uk.