Winners crowned at annual Forest Volunteer Awards event...

The Forest of Dean's most dedicated volunteers took centre stage this week at our annual Forest Volunteer Awards, held on Tuesday 2 September at the AccXel Construction School in Cinderford!

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People's Champion Takes Top Honours

Ian Gower claimed the evening's most coveted award – Volunteer of the Year (People's Champion) – following a public vote that attracted over 3,500 participants. Ian's tireless work spans multiple organisations including CANDI, Mitcheldean Youth Club, and Scarr Bandstand, where he inspires young people through STEM education, drawing on his engineering background with Rolls Royce.

 

Community Groups Recognised for Vital Work

Several local organisations received recognition for their outstanding community contributions. The Salvation Army Community Hub in Coleford won Community Organisation of the Year for providing comprehensive support services including food assistance and domestic violence support.

The Sharing Kitchen in Newent claimed the Grassroots Voluntary Group award, having transformed from a winter soup kitchen into a thriving community hub since launching in November 2024. Meanwhile, Music for Memories received the FoD Dementia Action Alliance Accessibility & Inclusion Award for positively impacting nearly 200 lives through personalised music therapy.

 

We Rewarded Resilience

Brockweir Village Shop and Café earned our ESV Business in the Community Award, demonstrating remarkable resilience after rebuilding following devastating fire damage in 2023. Volunteers worked tirelessly through an 18-month reconstruction to reopen the vital community facility.

 

We Recognised Environmental Action

Our newly introduced Community Climate Action Award went to the Save the Wye Campaign, recognising the group's creative activism in bringing national attention to the environmental crisis facing the River Wye.

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We Celebrated Future Leaders and Lifetime Achievement

Our ceremony highlighted emerging community leaders, with Moss Thornton taking home our Young Volunteer of the Year honours for outstanding work as a Youth Expert and Youth Worker with Gloucestershire Health and Care Trust and Forest Pulse.

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Albert Weager received our Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 for his decades of community service as a representative and advocate for improved healthcare in the Forest of Dean.

Celebrating Community Spirit

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"So much of what happens within our community is because of people who give their time and energy for free," said Deb Cook, Volunteering Manager at FVAF. "We're so proud to host this event and make a massive fuss about the incredible work that goes on in groups and organisations large and small. The work carried out by these volunteers is absolutely crucial to so many."

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Hosted by Steve Knibbs (BBC News Presenter) and Les Love (Dean Radio), our award winners were announced by guest presenters; Simon Murray (Vice chair, trustee of FVAF and chair of the Forest of Dean branch of CPRE), Cllr Jackie Dale, Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities FoDDC, Piers Cardiff (new Co-ordinator of FoDCAP), Tyler Josh Carpenter (volunteer at SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association) AND winner of last year’s Forest Young Volunteer of the Year),  Dame Janet Trotter (DBE CVO), Nick Penny (FVAF Programme Manager).

 

The celebration evening was made possible through generous sponsorship from local organisations, KW Bell Group and AccXel Construction Centre, Cinderhill Farm, Float in the Forest, Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership (FODCAP), Forest of Dean District Council, Mid Counties Co-operative and Pedalabikeaway.

 

We received hundreds of nominations following their summer call for submissions, with an expert panel handling the challenging task of shortlisting candidates across all categories.

 

FOREST VOLUNTEER AWARD WINNERS 2025:

Volunteer of the Year – Peoples’ Champion 
WINNER: Ian Gower: CANDI, Mitcheldean Youth Club, Scarr Bandstand
 

Highly Commended:
Carol Austin: Sedbury Space

Laura Dovey: Taurus Crafts

Annie George: Forest Exchange

Glynis Halling: The Victoria Centre, Lydney Dial-a-Ride, Dr Charley's Lunch Club

Julie Holder: Packed with Love

 

Young Volunteer of the Year 21yrs & under 

WINNER: Moss Thornton: Youth Expert and Youth Worker with Gloucestershire Health and Care Trust and Forest Pulse

Highly Commended: Chloe Watts - Her Game Too and Bristol Rovers Women Ambassador

 
Community Organisation of the Year 
WINNER: Salvation Army Community Hub
Highly Commended: Forest of Dean Writers Collection Project and Dean Green Team

 

Grassroots Group of the Year 
WINNER: The Sharing Kitchen
Highly Commended: 

Cinderford Town FC (Youth Team) 
Forest Wombles

 

Business in the Community Award 
WINNER: Brockweir Village Shop & Cafe

Highly Commended: Dean Forest Food Hub

 

FoD Dementia Action Alliance Accessibility & Inclusion Award

WINNER: Music for Memories
Highly Commended:  Skillzone – Preparation for Adulthood

 

Community Climate Action Award (sponsored by FoDCAP)

WINNER: Save the Wye Campaign

Highly Commended:  Yorkley Village Garden

 

Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 –

Albert Weager - community representative and advocate for better healthcare in the Forest of Dean

 

For media enquires contact communications@fvaf.org.uk or 01594 822073.

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Notes to editor:

• Established in 1994, Forest Voluntary Action Forum (FVAF) is the Voluntary Service Council and Volunteer Centre for the Forest of Dean 

• The charity offers support to local citizens, community groups and activities including support and development advice, training, networking meetings, facilitating representation, volunteer recruitment, volunteer placement and support

• In addition, FVAF delivers projects with and for the local community, including Forest of Dean Youth Association, Holiday, Activities and Food Programme, The Forest Compass Directory, Walking with Wheels 

• FVAF receives some financial support from the Forest of Dean District Council and funds activities through external funding opportunities

• Head office  - Forest Voluntary Action Forum, Ow Bist – Forest Community Space, Dockham Road, Cinderford , Glos. GL14 2AN.

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