THE county’s charity heroes were recognised this week at a special event put on in their honour at Oxford Town Hall.

Hundreds turned out for the Oxfordshire Charity and Volunteer Awards to see both organisations and individuals rewarded for helping their communities.

In total, 10 county charities received special recognition at the awards organised by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA).

Tim Stevenson, Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, said: “It is fantastic to have filled the Town Hall, particularly when volunteering is under such pressure. They need someone to give them a pat on the back.”

The award for Charity of the Year was won by Restore, which provides rehabilitation, employment and training support for people with mental health problems.

Chief executive Benedict Leigh said: “We are stunned and gratified to have won. It is about the hard work of our volunteers, staff and members over the last year.

“It is great to see people like Pat Armstrong, one of our volunteers, get an award. In many ways her work is more important because otherwise we would not exist.”

SeeSaw, which helps children and families through bereavement, was given an award for its management of volunteers.

Director Rosie Nicol-Harper said: “The whole event is about volunteers and to get an award is wonderful.

“The sheer variety of voluntary work in the county is fantastic and we are thrilled to be part of it.”

A special message from Prime Minister and MP for Witney David Cameron was read out on the night.

He said: “Volunteers are the core of Britain’s civil society, an indispensable resource for the voluntary sector and in many public services.

“I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the outstanding work that Oxfordshire’s volunteers do.”

Kate Hill – of OCVA, the umbrella body for Oxfordshire’s voluntary and community sector – said: “The awards are a really valuable opportunity to recognise and celebrate the amount of activity that is going on across Oxfordshire.

“I am really pleased because it has grown from last year.”

The winners in full:

* Charity of the Year Restore supports people with mental health issues and helps them reconnect with the community. The charity, the judges said, had supported 946 people with mental health issues this year. “Users rate the service positively,” judges said.

* Lifetime Achievement The Ley Community has been providing support to those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction for 40 years. The judges said: “It has an enviable success rate in turning hopelessness into fulfilment.”

* Best Community Project Low Carbon Oxford North, a group set up by residents who are taking practical action to reduce their carbon footprint. The judges cited £145,000 fundraising from residents to put solar panels on Cherwell School.

* Good Practice in the Management of Volunteers Award SeeSaw, which helps families and children suffering bereavement. Judges said: “Volunteers attend monthly supervision in a peer group, as well as monthly training meetings. This support ensures the volunteers enjoy their roles and have a strong sense of belonging.”

* Best initiative involving the statutory, voluntary and community sectors working together Soha Housing, a project working with South Oxfordshire District Council and Thames Valley Police to tackle residents’ concerns over crime. Judges said: “A community garden and a safer neighbourhood agreement was established to keep the community safe and green.”

* Most creative fundraising work My Life My Choice, a charity run for and by those with learning difficulties. Judges mentioned the group’s use of local media, door-to-door leafleting and social networking sites as reasons for its success.

* Group with biggest positive impact on the local environment The South Chilterns Path Maintenance Volunteers improves the network of public rights of way within Oxfordshire’s Chilterns. “Last year they installed 32 gates and 19 waymark posts, cleared vegetation from 23km and mowed 6.5km of path,” the judges said.

* Best new voluntary or community group set up in the past two years Yellow Submarine was formed in 2010 to support people with learning disabilities and their families. The judges quoted the 19 supported residential holidays it has organised and 8,000 hours of respite time it has provided since being set up as a reason for giving it the award.

* Best use of social media and the web or other technology Special Effect helps young people with disabilities enjoy computer games through cutting-edge technology. The judges said: “Disabled people can participate in the activities of their peers, join in with friends and have fun”.

* Best example of a group adapting or responding to the current changing environment Oxford Hub, which opened its own venue in Turl Street to provide a physical hub for student social engagement. The judges said: “In response to the current pressures of funding, they developed and managed to put in place a new model of sustainability.”