A DEDICATED volunteer has been nominated for this year's Community Pride Awards for his work in helping to set up a successful community hub.

Barry Beckwith, 74, from York, has been nominated for the Volunteer of the Year accolade for his help in creating the Red Tower community hub, in Navigation Road, which aims to tackle food poverty and wastage in the city.

The Red Tower CIC gained a 30-year-lease in 2015 to create a community space for the community.

The hub was flooded in the Boxing Day floods of 2015, but that did not stop Barry and his team, who have since created the York Food Poverty Alliance, which invites people to their food bank every Monday.

Mr Beckwith was nominated by his daughter, Ann Marie, and several friends who have seen the difference the hub has made.

She said: “Barry has thrown himself and every ounce of his being into making the Red Tower a successful community hub. It has grown from a shell, to a thriving cafe, place for people to go, eat , craft and garden.

“He tends to the veg plot, guides tourists around the tower. He was there to support locals after the boxing day flood, which ruined a lot of the hard work, and helped to restore it afterwards.

“Now it holds a hunger cafe every Monday which repurposes lots of food from supermarkets which otherwise would have gone to waste. He makes everyone welcome, no matter who they are. And all of this as a volunteer. He deserves this recognition more than anyone I know.”

Mr Beckwith said he was honoured to receive the nomination.

He said: “A lot of people do fantastic things in York so to receive the nomination is an honour. I stepped down as the chairman of the Red Tower last year but I couldn’t keep away. Even at 74 I love volunteering and seeing how the charity can help people in the city. We have a great community hub that now stretches across most of the city to help tackle food poverty in city and also food wastage.”

The Community Pride Awards are run by The Press in partnership with City of York Council and the primary sponsor is York-based healthcare organisation Benenden Health.

All nominees must live in, or contribute to life in, the City of York Council area. Three finalists from each category will be invited to the awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October.

Entries can be posted to York Community Pride Awards, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York Y01 9YN. Or submit nomination online at yorkpress.co.uk/communitypride. The deadline is July 26. Nominations must include a support statement and may include a photo, which we are unable to return.