Volunteers get their night to feel special

CELEBRATION . . . overall winner Yasmin Jolly Begum (front left) with some of the Special Volunteer Achievement Award nominees, winners and staff

AN Oldham teenager has received a prestigious award at a glitzy ceremony to celebrate the work of young volunteers.

Yasmin Jolly Begum (16), of Coppice, was crowned top volunteer for her work helping at a parent and toddler group and assisting young people with literacy in Oldham.

More than 250 guests attended the event at Manchester’s Castlefield Hotel to mark the hard work carried out by hundreds of young people taking part in the “vinvolved” scheme, a national youth volunteering programme.

Other local volunteers, Angela O’Reilly (20), from Failsworth, David Taylor (17), from Shaw, and Rayhan Raja (17), from Werneth, joined a total of 18 young people from across Greater Manchester who received star-shaped trophies for a range of voluntary activity.

During the night, Angela O’Reilly wowed the crowd with her singing while pal David was joint host for the evening.

Mike White, youth volunteer adviser, said: “These young people are an absolute inspiration.

“This special event is our way of saying thank-you for everything they have done.”

Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) is a not-for-profit organisation that helps young people get involved in the vinvolved programme.

For more information on how to join visit www.gmyn.co.uk