THORNBURY Volunteer Centre rounded off its jubilee celebrations with an awards ceremony at Thornbury Castle.

The agency, based in Thornbury town hall, has been celebrating its 25th anniversary with a year-long run of special events.

Efforts that local individuals and organisations have made to their communities were recognised at the awards ceremony on Monday, December 2.

Awards were presented by Dame Janet Trotter, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, in the company of Cllr Ian Boulton, chairman of South Gloucestershire Council and Thornbury’s mayor Cllr Pamela Shipp.

Audrey Green received the Alan Hudson Award on behalf of the Thornbury Memory Cafe. The cafe, held in the Methodist Church Hall, has gone from strength to strength since its formation last year and offers a welcoming environment for anyone with memory problems or any form of dementia.

Clare Fardell was recognised for her work on setting up what was then the Thornbury Volunteer Link 25 years ago, Paul Morris for community work spanning Thornbury Carnival, the Christmas lights switch-on and the Arts Festival and David and Jackie Chubb for their long-standing work with the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

John Forse and Anne Sheppard received awards for Thornbury and District Stroke Group's work.

The centre’s development coordinator Kim Webb was presented with a piece of engraved Bristol blue glass as a thank you for her hard work organising jubilee events.

Thornbury Volunteer Centre links volunteers with organisations who need voluntary help and staff also provide training, advice and support for volunteers to help get them started in their roles.

With the volunteer centre celebrating its silver jubilee this year, it has been an action-packed year full of commemorative events, with everything from coffee mornings for volunteers and social media workshops to the recent Christmas lights switch-on in Thornbury with Bristol-born singer Lauren Aquilina.

As Thornbury Christmas Lights Association’s nominated charity for 2013, the centre also received all funds raised from the bucket collections on the night.