Local ethnic minority volunteers celebrated in Volunteers' Week

Every year from June 1 to June 7, Volunteers’ Week is an opportunity to celebrate all the remarkable organisations and individuals that dedicate themselves to supporting others in their community.

This year has presented many additional challenges for volunteers and one of the most immediate concerns has been making sure that vulnerable and isolated members of the community have access to food and essentials.

The selfless work of volunteers has benefited many people in our communities and the North East Wales Regional Cohesion Team has thanked them for their "fantastic" efforts.

Gareth Hall, regional cohesion officer, said: “We’d like to say a special thank you to everyone in North East Wales who has been working hard to arrange food parcels and home deliveries for those in need.

This includes organisations like NWAMI (Networking for World Awareness of Multicultural Integration) and CLPW (Wrexham Portuguese Community) who have been providing vulnerable minorities with food and PPE.

“One of our key duties on the Regional Cohesion Team has been facilitating small grants funding to enable more of this much needed volunteer support. The Wrexham African Community organisation were recent beneficiaries of this programme.

“There have also been lots of great volunteer initiatives to support our communities in other ways. PISC (Polish Integration Support Centre) have been delivering training and educational support online for Polish families; and the Contact Club in Flintshire have been running fun activity sessions for young people with disabilities, including a spot of karaoke for anyone brave enough to sing!”

On the theme of celebrating individuals who work hard to support the most vulnerable members of our community, Wrexham-based sanctuary seeker Godwin Akinyele, a volunteer caseworker for British Red Cross Refugee Services, has recently received the High Sheriff of Clwyd Award..

"Gareth added: “Godwin was recently given the High Sheriff of Clwyd Award for his tireless efforts in support of refugee families in Wales.

"In addition to his role at British Red Cross, Godwin also acts as an advisor to the Welsh Refugee Council, a volunteer with BAWSO (national Welsh BAME organisation), and an ambassador for the Voices Network. How he finds the time, we honestly don’t know – well done, Godwin!”