Nominations for an awards scheme that celebrates Teignbridge volunteers will open this Sunday (June 1) to coincide with the start of National Volunteering Week.

The Stars of Teignbridge Awards were established last year to recognise individuals and groups that make a difference to their local community.

An official launch event will take place at the clock tower in Newton Abbot between 12.30pm and 2.30pm on Wednesday (June 4) when Teignbridge CVS will be out with its sofa.

‘This is an opportunity to celebrate the volunteers and community organisations that make Teignbridge such a wonderful place to live, work and visit,’ explained Chloe Myers, who looks after volunteer development for Teingbridge CVS and organises the awards. ‘We want to show our appreciation for these community-minded people and organisations who make life easier on us all,’ she added.

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony at the Pavilions Teignmouth on November 7.

Nominations can be made via the Teignbridge CVS website: teigncvs.org.uk/support/volunteering

There are six award categories based around the Teignbridge CVS Vision for Volunteering themes of: awareness and appreciation; power; equality and inclusion; collaboration; experimentation; and balance and boundaries. There is also an overall individual and organisation winner.

Last year, Corony Edwards, described as ‘the lynchpin of the Teign Valley community’, won the overall individual award and Dawlish Community Transport won the organisation award.

‘Maybe there’s a sports coach or scout leader who has helped your child build up their confidence; or a kind volunteer who drove you to a hospital appointment; or a neighbour who is always willing to take on extra dog walking, put other people’s bins out and do some litter picking and weeding to keep the street looking its best,’ Chloe suggested as ideas for potential award entries for this year.