Olympic hero to present Gold Star Awards (From This is The West Country)

Olympic hero to present Gold Star Awards

8:00pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News

VOLUNTEERS and sporting heroes from South Somerset have the chance to meet a London 2012 Olympic gold medallist next month.

Peter Wilson will honour award winners when the Gold Star Awards return to the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil on Tuesday, October 30.

The double trap shooting gold medallist will join the community health and leisure team at the district council to reward the work of the unsung heroes who volunteer with young people. This year the event will also incluide achievements in sport and the arts.

Peter said: “I was very keen to help out with the Gold Star awards as it is important to recognise the hard work that volunteers working with young people put in every day – it is great to have the opportunity to give something back to these unsung heroes.

“I also hope that following the Olympics and Paralympics this event will help to inspire local sporting talent to go on to reach their full potential.”

Eleven awards are up for grabs: young volunteer of the year; sports club of the year; male volunteer of the year; rookie coach of the year; female volunteer of the year; senior sports performer of the year; voluntary group/club of the year; junior sports performer of the year; young volunteer of the year; sports club of the year; young people project of the year; lifetime achievement award.

The council is looking for people to nominate volunteers, organisations and sportspeople they would like to be rewarded for the hard work and dedication they have put in this year. Nominating is easy, visit southsomerset.gov.uk/goldstars or call 01935-462462 and ask for a nomination form.

Steve Barnes, the council’s young people’s officer, said: “So many people put in hours of their own time to help young people in South Somerset and this night is to celebrate the incredible work they do. We are also delighted to recognise sporting achievement in this amazing summer of sport.”

To attend this event for free, please e-mail leisure@southsomerset.gov.uk