FEW are better placed to assess the tough times facing Oxfordshire charities than David Young.

Having been a director with Oxfordshire County Council for 20 years, he knows all about the impact of cuts in council funding on the voluntary sector.

And after retiring from County Hall seven years ago, he went on to dedicate himself to leading the umbrella charity for the Oxfordshire voluntary sector.

Now after five years as chairman of Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action he has announced he will be standing down.

But he leaves happy in the knowledge that the work of local charities is going to be fully recognised, following last week’s announcement of a special awards ceremony.

As reported in The Oxford Times last week, people across the county are being urged to nominate their favourite charity or voluntary groups for one of nine awards to be presented on November 10 at North Oxford Golf Club.

Mr Young, 65, thinks the awards could not be more timely, saying: “There is now a real need to raise the whole profile of the voluntary sector so everyone understands the good work that is going on.”

The awards are run by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action and sponsored by the Responsible Oxfordshire Business Involvement Network, with The Oxford Times acting as media partner.

With 3,000 charities and voluntary groups active in the county, many bracing themselves for battles of survival in the coming months, the awards have been created to ensure their contribution to life in Oxfordshire is fully recognised.

The nine different categories are charity of the year, best new voluntary or community group, lifetime achievement award, most exciting fundraising campaign, greenest group, group showing best practice in use of volunteers, group that has had the biggest community impact, best charity managed by under-25s, and statutory authority that has made the best use of the voluntary sector.

To nominate a charity, download the nomination form from ocva.org.uk Nominations must be submitted by October 15.