Volunteers in sport recognised in Torch Trophy Trust Awards 2014
The 51st annual Torch Trophy Trust Awards saw 19 volunteers honoured for their outstanding contribution to grassroots sport. Among them three volunteering champions in sport for disabled people.
Volunteers who have shown outstanding dedication to sport in their local communities were honoured on Tuesday 18 March at the 51st Torch Trophy Trust Awards alongside sporting legend Sir Bobby Charlton CBE.
HRH The Princess Royal presented this year’s awards, which take place every year at the Royal Army and Navy Club in London to celebrate the tireless work of sport’s unsung heroes.
This year the awards were an extra special occasion as the Torch Trophy Trust also presented a lifetime achievement award to their President and national sporting hero, Sir Bobby Charlton CBE, in recognition of his lifelong service to sport.
Sir Bobby said:
"I am delighted to receive this award from the Torch Trophy Trust. The Trust does a wonderful job of recognising, supporting and celebrating the work of volunteers in sport and it is an honour to have been associated with the charity for fifteen years. But most importantly my congratulations go out to all of the volunteers who have been recognised at this year’s awards – they are the unsung heroes of sport and their achievements and dedication are truly admirable."
Among the winners were Beryl Horton, Jo Dixson and Helen Bruce.
Beryl's story
Beryl commits her life to providing and developing disability sport opportunities for the people of East Staffordshire.
For many years she has organised a swimming club for disabled people in Burton on Trent, managing the national Mencap swimming team and taking them to the annual swimming championships in Geneva. The achievements of these swimmers have been excellent in recent years, with some returning with international medals.
She was also the founder member of a Burton on Trent club, now known as the CREST club and has volunteered with the sports club for over 41 years.
Beryl was involved in the formation of the Able Too Forum – a group of individuals from the East Staffordshire community who get together to plan activities specifically for disabled people.
She has played an integral role in applying for around £75,000 of funding over the past 10 years to allow these activities to develop.
Beryl’s daughter has moderate learning difficulties and she has also adopted a severely disabled child who was not expected to live past the age of three. Thanks to Beryl’s care and devotion he is now 16.
Despite all the challenges that Beryl faces, she still finds time to provide all she does for others.
Jo's story
Jo was registered blind in 1999 and since then has dedicated a huge amount of time to sport for blind people on a voluntary basis – her chosen sport being visually impaired tenpin bowling.
She has served as secretary and development officer for the British Blind Sport tenpin section, as well as the European technical representative for International Blind Tenpin for a number of years.
She has also represented Great Britain herself at many European and World Championships.
Jo is a qualified British Tenpin Bowling Association instructor and is very committed to helping visually impaired people develop their sporting potential.
She voluntarily organises ‘have a go’ days and coaching for the tenpin section, as well as spending many tireless hours on windy corners and railway stations all around the country to raise funds for the charity, ably assisted by her guide dog Zade.
Jo is a much respected and valued volunteer with the charity and for this reason she was elected Chair six years ago by its members.
Helen's story
Helen has been the Chair of Lothian Disability Sport (LDS) for 15 years and has been instrumental in ensuring that LDS is one of the most successful, thriving and forward-thinking branches of Scottish Disability Sport.
During her tenure as Chair LDS has made incredible progress. Helen was especially influential in securing funding to enable LDS to introduce a paid employee to its staff, which has had a hugely positive effect on disability sport in the Lothian area.
Participation figures have increased dramatically and participants have been able to pursue pathways to national and international levels.
Helen’s dedication to disability sport in Scotland has had far-reaching effects. She is extremely well-respected throughout the country and has established effective partnerships with other branches, governing bodies and local authorities.
Her conscientious, open and innovative approach empowers others on the committee to use their own creativity to develop projects.
She has also overseen a very successful referral process with NHS occupational therapists and physiotherapists which ensures that sport is used as an integral part of the lives of young disabled people.
Helen has been a very significant figure in disability sport. She is always happy to share her experience and time with others and this benevolence has influenced many people and organisations throughout Scotland.
About the Torch Trophy
The Torch Trophy Trust is a charity that recognises and supports volunteers in sport and recreation. Their annual awards are unique in celebrating the often thankless and unnoticed work of volunteers in sport at a very prestigious ceremony.
The Sport and Recreation Alliance has provided the day-to-day support for the Trust on a voluntary basis since 1999.
Legacy has always been at the heart of the Trust’s ethos – founded after the 1948 London Olympics with the aim of inspiring and rewarding volunteers, the Trust still uses the 1948 Olympic torch as its symbol.
This year’s awards gave much-deserved recognition to the men and women working hard to ensure that the legacy of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games is felt in grassroots sport throughout the country.
Volunteers like them are a vital part of sport in the UK. As the thousands of volunteers who will make the Glasgow Commonwealth Games a reality this summer attend their first orientation sessions, the Torch Trophy Trust paid tribute to the people who make sport in local communities possible every day.
See a list of the 2014 winners of the Torch Trophy Trust Awards.
