AFTER dedicating their lives to helping others, community stalwarts from projects across Oxfordshire have been singled out for praise.

In this year’s Oxfordshire Charity and Volunteer Awards, there are 25 groups nominated, ranging from newcomers such as a co-operative farm for people with autism to longstanding institutions such as Sobell House Hospice at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

Also up for awards are 41 individuals who will be recognised for their dedication and inspirational work.

Event organiser Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA) received more than 130 nominations for this year’s awards.

OCVA spokeswoman Kanika Lang said: “We want to thank everyone who nominated a charity, project or volunteer this year.

“The judges were very impressed with the high calibre and huge variety of projects happening across Oxfordshire.”

She added: “Thanks to the generous help of sponsors from Oxfordshire’s business community, we are able to host a special celebration event in October to thank the charities, voluntary organisations and individual volunteers for making a difference to the lives of people across the county.”

FarmAbility has been shortlisted for Best New Group. The not-for-profit organisation in Wytham, near Oxford, provides training and therapeutic activities for people with learning difficulties on a farm.

FarmAbility’s Dr Corri Waitt said: “Our co-farmers are so pleased their project has been shortlisted for an award.

“They love coming to the farm and having the opportunity to learn how to care for animals and learn horticultural skills.

“One co-farmer said he if he didn’t come to the farm he would stay in bed all day feeling depressed.”

Up for the Best Fundraising Award is the Stadhampton Community Building Project Team. In four years, they raised £385,000 to build a new community hall in their church.

Project team chairman Ann Stead said: “We were thrilled to hear that we have been shortlisted because it is really heartening to know that all the hard work and creative thinking that had gone into raising our ambitious target has been recognised.

“As a group we knew it had been a mammoth achievement, especially in the present economic climate.

“The whole community is looking forward to having a new village hall where all generations can meet for social events.

“When the re-modelled church is being used by the whole community in a broad variety of ways, including continuing its role for worship, it will make all the hard work that went into fundraising worthwhile.”

All the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at Oxford Town Hall on October 14.

THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL BE HONOURED AT THE CEREMONY

  • Deborah Alexander, Home-Start Banbury and Chipping Norton
  • Fran Bennett, Agnes Smith Advice Centre
  • Les Bishop, National Trails Thames Path
  • Joyce Burrows, Sue Ryder, Nettlebed
  • Jamie Clark, Rose Hill Regeneration
  • Anne Collieu, ARCh
  • Judy Dewey, Wallingford Museum
  • Yvonne Fearon, Helen and Douglas House
  • Amanda Ford, Abingdon Vale Swimming Club
  • Sue Fulford, Archway
  • Avis Gallager, WRVS
  • Florence Galliford, Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary
  • Jenny Gough, Banbury WEA
  • James Guring, Quebec Company, Oxfordshire ACF
  • Ella Harley, Childreach International
  • Sue Harris, Restore
  • Audrey Holmes, Cherwell and Community Voluntary Service
  • Andy Howells, Action for Children Witney Children’s Centre
  • Tony Humphreys, Orinoco
  • Karen Irvani, Parents Talking Aspergers
  • Andy Law, My Life My Choice
  • Kiran Kaur Malhotra, Museum of Oxford
  • Shaun McIlroy, A2Dominion Simon House
  • Peter Mobbs, Earth Trust
  • Jocelyn Morris, Oxfordshire County Council Skills and Learning Service
  • Lesley Newland, St John’s Home
  • Jim O’Kane, Oxford Homeless Pathways
  • Barbara Oster, Trax
  • Jill Parker, Parent Partnership Oxfordshire
  • Jack Richens, Oxford Wheels Project
  • Wayne Richmond, Yellow Submarine
  • Joe Robinson, JR4JR
  • Pat Ross, Oxfordshire Mind
  • Icolyn Smith, Oxford Community Soup Kitchen
  • Andrew Stokes, Witney Buttercross Scout Group
  • Patricia Sutcliffe, MIGWAL
  • Pearl Watts, Dogs for the Disabled
  • Anna Webster, Jacari
  • Fiona Wellstood, Reading Quest incorporating Numeracy Quest
  • Alan Wharton, Oxford & District Branch Parkinson’s UK
  • Anjella Wilson, Eve Women’s Wellbeing Project