Our Volunteer Awards were created in 2018 and now each year during Volunteers Week we host a ceremony to present awards to people who volunteer for our member organisations in many different roles.
Irish in Britain CEO Brian Dalton welcomed everyone to the event saying it was “a day dedicated to celebrating the generosity, heart, and spirit of our incredible volunteers.
“Volunteering is not simply about giving time – it is about building something greater than ourselves. It is about kinship. And for our community, this sense of kinship runs deep.
“Irish people have a long and proud tradition of coming together in times of need – of organising, supporting and creating spaces of care and belonging wherever we have settled.
“From the early days of migration, when arrival often meant hardship and isolation, our response was to build: cultural centres, welfare groups, sports clubs, and solidarity networks. We turned experience into action, and action into community.
“This tradition of community development is not unique to us—it is a shared legacy among migrant communities across Britain.
In our work, we see time and again how people who have known what it is to leave one home and to then create another—rooted in compassion, dignity, and mutual support.
It is a powerful thread that unites us.”
The event’s compere, musician and television studio floor manager Niall Jackson, expressed Irish in Britain’s thanks to the event sponsors, Clover HR for returning once again to support our ceremony. Irish in Britain presented Michael Doolin and Louise Rance from Clover HR with a plaque as proud sponsors of the Volunteer Awards and both addressed the event.
Niall also thanked the three independent Judges – Christina Lake, Deborah Forster and John Jolly.
Outstanding individual award
Ambassador Martin Fraser attended the ceremony and also addressed the attendees, paying tribute to the tremendous contribution that volunteers make within the Irish community.
He presented the Outstanding Individual Award, sponsored by Leading Minds, to Lorraine Dance who volunteers weekly at The Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith. Runners up in the category were Bartley Duggan, Irish Elderly Advice Network and Pamela O’Neill, Jersey Irish Society.
Young volunteer award
Sean Kennedy from Moreland Investments, sponsors of the Young Volunteer Award, spoke passionately about the value of volunteering and about the outstanding achievements of the two sisters who were winners of this year’s Young Volunteer Award – Alanna Witney and Delsey Witney, from Luton Irish Forum.
Alanna spoke movingly about her pathway into volunteering and said she pledged to dedicate her life to “advocating and educating people on Irish Traveller and Romany Gypsies… I will try and make a difference”.
The runner up for award was Ivan Lau from Irish Community Care Manchester.
Trustee award
Sean McLaughlin, Chair Innisfree Housing Association, which sponsored the Outstanding Trustee Award, said a few words about why Innisfree were proud to support the Awards and announced the winner and finalists in that category.
The winner, Rachael Loftus, Chairperson of Leeds Irish Health and Homes could not attend so the CEO Ant Hanlon, spoke about why he nominated Rachael and he accepted the award on her behalf. He was also presented with a large Irish hamper kindly donated as a prize by Your Irish Shop.
The runners up were: Aileen Wiswell MBE, Irish Community Care and Anne O’ Rourke, Lewisham Irish Community Centre.
Volunteer group award
The Award for Outstanding Volunteer Group, sponsored by Galway Crystal, was presented by Michael Doolin of Clover HR to The History Research Group, Liverpool Irish Festival.
One of the group, Kieran Daly thanked Irish in Britain and talked about the group’s research into the Famine Trail.
He pointed to the fact that 1.3 million Irish people fleeing the famine walked through Clarence Dock Gates in Liverpool, which had a profound impact on the city of Liverpool and wider region.
Runners up were: the Irish Community Care Manchester Allotment Group and Brent Active Ageing Clubs Volunteers, Brent Irish Advisory Service.
David O’Keeffe Special Recognition Award
The final award of the night was the David O’Keeffe Special Recognition Award, which is chosen by the Irish in Britain team.
It is in memory of the late General Manager of the Irish Cultural Centre. Brian Dalton presented the award to Tom Scanlon, of Luton Irish Forum saying:
“Tom has spent his career organising for equality and representation in the workplace. Selflessly he has brought these skills to the Irish community sector and in particular in his role as Chair of Luton Irish Forum for the last 12 years, his commitment to the welfare of others is humbling and inspirational.”
Brian presented Tom with the piece of glassware specially designed, made and donated by architect and artist Angela Brady and a voucher for a meal at the Myrtle restaurant donated by Chef Anna Haugh.
In his speech of thank you Tom Scanlon said it had been a great honour to serve Luton Irish Forum, he said the work was both a “pleasure and a challenge”.
He talked of the need to ensure there were always people in younger generations who could carry on the work of the organisation and thanked the Irish government and the Ambassador for their support for the Irish community and its organisations.
The event brought together people who make a difference in our communities every day and as Brian Dalton told attendees:
“At a time when there are there are those who seek to divide communities volunteering reminds us that there is a common impulse to work for the greater good – to make a positive difference in how we relate to each other.”