This Award was launched as one of the High Sheriff’s  Annual Awards  in 2002 by George Courtauld.  It was won this year by the Colchester and Tiptree Toy Library.  The award recognises an organisation for the support, respect and training that it gives to its volunteers and includes a cheque for £1,000.  Katrina King nominated the Toy Library.  She said “the volunteers are always supported in everything they do".

The Award Ceremony took place on 10th March. Around 230 invited guests included the Lord Lieutenant, the Chairman of Essex County Council, Cllr Bonnie Hart, Chief Constable, Jim Barker-McCardle, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Adam Eckley and many past High Sheriffs of Essex, attended the event, which was compered by BBC Essex Radio Presenter, Steve Scruton. 

NEW PARTNERSIP TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERING

Essex Volunteer Centres are now working in partnership with Essex County Council to support their new Essex Volunteers: the ECC Employee Volunteering programme - a total of 15 hours volunteering leave per year.

We hope that many employees will see this as an opportunity to explore the world of volunteering. ECC are allowing all eligible employees to take two days or 15 hours of paid leave to engage in volunteering. This may enable them to leave work an hour earlier in order to go and support a voluntary organisation, or perhaps add a couple of hours to their lunch hour in order to undertake a task, or to devote a day to a fundraising event.

Taking part in the community can lead to a better understanding of your abilities, some you never even knew you had!

We are all looking forward to developing our role in this new initiative.

TIME BANK partnership with ENFORM

Time Bank are working in partnership with Colchester Environmental Centre enform on several “Give or Take” Recycling events, exchanging goods free of charge. So you bring along a few items (not electrical please) and you can find things you want to take home.