YORK'S most outstanding employee-volunteers have been recognised at the annual York Cares Golden Moments Awards 2015.

Recipients included Nicola Sykes from Aviva, who has been helping children in schools to learn to read since January 2008.

Among the other winners was a team who led a gift collection for young homeless people and another which organised a Christmas party in a city care home.

Their good deeds have come about as part of York Cares, the employee-volunteering charity committed to making York a better place through volunteering.

Volunteers from 16 York businesses and universities were presented with awards at the York Cares Golden Moments Awards 2015.

Helen Green, York Cares volunteering project officer, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to give something back to the wonderful volunteers who have given so much of their time and enthusiasm to community projects this year.

"These volunteers are hugely valuable to the city and make a real difference to people’s lives. York has a really strong volunteering ethos and we hope these awards will inspire even more businesses to get involved in their community. Congratulations to all our winners.”

Nine Golden Moments Awards and eight Golden Moments of the Year Awards were presented as well as a Community Partner Award, which went to Brenda Elliott, deputy head of St Barnabas Primary School, for her support and enthusiasm for the York Cares Right to Read programme.

York Cares offers a range of volunteering activities for employees to get involved in, such as:

  • Improving the physical environment of the city through team challenges and the big community challenge
  • Supporting VCSE organisations to generate new income through the Enterprise Hub
  • Engaging disadvantaged children and their families in learning through York Children’s University
  • Providing supported work experience for young people leaving care through Starting Blocks.

To see how to get involved in York Cares employee volunteering initiatives visit www.yorkcares.co.uk or phone 01904 323482.