Blind volunteer nominated for Community Pride award (From York Press)

Anne Smith nominated for volunteer of the year award

8:10am Tuesday 10th April 2012 in News By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

Anne Smith, 69, of Dringhouses, who has been nominated for the title of volunteer of the year

A BLIND volunteer who tirelessly devotes her time to helping others has been nominated for a Community Pride award.

Anne Smith, 69, of Dringhouses, who supports and fundraises for many organisations, including the Blind And Partially Sighted Society And Guide Dogs UK, has been nominated for the title of volunteer of the year.

Nominating Mrs Smith on behalf of the neighbourhood management unit at City of York Council, Cindy Benton said: “She is a fantastic advocate for a volunteer and nothing is ever too much trouble.

“She makes our job a pleasure and a joy.”

Among her roles, Mrs Smith is a member of the Older People’s Assembly, executive member of the committee of the Blind Society, chair of York Residents’ Federation, a founder member of Dringhouses Residents’ Association, and she runs the Melrose Club For The Visually Impaired.

She also volunteers for Guide Dogs, in Bishopthorpe Road, and raises money for the Blind And Partially Sighted Society by knitting toys.

Mrs Smith said: “I’m over the moon to be nominated.

“I do it for my own satisfaction, it keeps me active and I always say it helps to make our community a better place to live. It’s brilliant because sometimes you think ‘what am I doing this for?’ when things go wrong, but something like this makes it all worth it. If I’m making a difference I will carry on.”

Mrs Smith is joined in her volunteering by her husband of 49 years, Brian, who is also blind, and is president of the Blind And Partially Sighted Society and a member of York Lions Club.

Mrs Smith, who lost her sight as a child, said: “I have always been a very independent person. I have had to get on with it – you can’t sit back and wait for people to come to you.”

The Community Pride Awards, which will have a York 800 theme this year, are run in partnership with City of York Council and sponsored by Benenden Healthcare.