UNSUNG heroes from some of York’s biggest employers who play their part in the city’s voluntary sector have been honoured.

York Cares, the aim of which is to encourage employee-volunteering through the programmes and support it provides, staged its Golden Moments awards ceremony to toast individual volunteers and teams who give their spare time and use their skills to support communities.

More than 100 volunteers and supporters from more than 20 businesses and York’s two universities, as well as community organisations, attended the event in the boardroom of Aviva’s city-centre headquarters. At the celebration, which has been held for the past five years, the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Julie Gunnell, and BBC Radio York presenter Elly Fiorentini presented the accolades. York Cares chairwoman Angela Darlington said: “York Cares is making a huge difference to the lives of many people in the local community. We are delighted to celebrate the fantastic efforts of the city’s businesses and their workers with the Golden Moments awards and would encourage more companies to get involved with York Cares.”

Among the winners were Aviva employees Lisa Dalby, Alison Cole, David West, Kristina Borisova and Eve Horner, the Food and Environment Research Agency, Gelayol Holme and the human resources team from York St John University, City of York Council’s parks and open spaces department and street environment team, Benenden Health, David Rhodes from consultants Radical-P, the Higher Education Academy, York Marriott Hotel and Rachel Jackson from Interchange and Consort Hotels.

York Cares, whose supporters include The Press, also has close links with more than 200 local charities to help to build a volunteering network and six more.

More information about employee-volunteering with York Cares is available by phoning 01904 323482 or visiting yorkcares.co.uk