GAVO Volunteering Awards 2025
- Dan Coast
- Jun 26
- 3 min read

The GAVO Volunteering awards will take place in each of our regions during October and nominations are now open!
Volunteers are the backbone of our communities. They help in many ways, from shopping for a neighbour to running a group. Nominating a volunteer or a community group is a great way to show your appreciation.
Nominations close at 5pm on Friday, 25th July for nominations in Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Newport, With Nominations closing earlier on the 30th June in Monmouthshire via this link.
You can nominate as many volunteers or groups as you like in the categories below.
🏆 Award Categories (Click the arrow to read more about this category)
Trustee and Director
The Trustee and Director award recognises the often, unseen work of those individuals who make an enormous difference to all our charities and community and voluntary groups. Trustees and Directors make important decisions about how an organisation operates to ensure they comply with legislation and regulations, and maintain their integrity.
Food Sustainability
The Food Sustainability award celebrates those individuals who support environmental issues, such as reducing food waste, improving food sustainability and subsequently helping those people in need.
Sport & Leisure
This award celebrates those who give their time to supporting and developing local sport and recreational projects in their communities. This could be football or rugby clubs, bowls, or tennis, even yoga or walking groups.
Community Advocate
The Community Advocate award recognises individuals who contribute to the community by helping people, and groups to find a place where they feel like they are part of something, respected by others and feel valued.
Environmental
The environmental award celebrates those individuals or groups who encourage communities to become more sustainable and they go the extra mile to protect our planet for future generations.
Inspirational Young Person (14-25)
This Inspirational Young Person award recognises those young people who are making influential decisions about their communities and are role models amongst their peers. These individuals make a significant and positive impact on local communities by seeing things from a youthful perspective and know what they want their future communities to look like.
Family Champion
The Family Champion award acknowledges those who go the extra mile for our next generation. Supporting Parent and Toddler groups, social coffee mornings, children & young people’s groups and PTAs are just some of the ways these individuals help improve the lives of children, young people and families in our communities.
Health & Wellbeing
This award celebrates those who help others to manage some of the challenges and personal struggles that life can present. With a caring and compassionate nature, these individuals or groups support people to improve their health and wellbeing needs.
Inspirational Journey
The Inspirational Journey award is an incredibly special award for the individuals who standout from the rest and take their volunteering responsibilities to another level. This award would be given to individuals who the judging panel feel are a true inspiration to us all.
Culture and Heritage
The Culture and Heritage Award recognises the work of those who ensure culture is central to our vibrant communities. These nominees go above and beyond to protect their culture and heritage for their present and future generations.
Complete your nomination via the form below or open in a new tab by following this link
Sponsor this year's event
If your organisation would like to help support the third sector, then why not consider sponsoring this year's awards.
Your financial support helps to provide the help needed to promote and celebrate the work of the third sector locally and recognise the amazing work of our community of volunteers.
Find out more about this exciting opportunity by contacting the relevant region:
Click any of the regions buttons below to see the report from previous events