Spirit of Volunteering Awards

Spirit of Volunteering Awards 2026: Categories

• Volunteering is…

  … the commitment of time and energy, for the benefit of society and the community, the environment or individuals outside or in addition to one’s immediate family. It is undertaken freely and by choice, without concern for financial gain.

• Eligibility

  Any person who has contributed to volunteering in the Borough of Antrim and Newtownabbey or lives in the Borough and undertakes their voluntary work outside the Borough is eligible for nomination. The nominee must have shown determination, commitment, enthusiasm and integrity through volunteering without concern for financial gain.

• Criteria
  1. Nominations must be completed on the official form, either online or in hard copy format if requested.  No supplementary information should be included. 
  2. Nominations should reflect the definition of volunteering outlined in the nomination form.
  3. Previous recipients of an Award within the past four years cannot be nominated. 
  4. The Award recipients agree to make themselves available without cost, for publicity purposes when required.
  5. The information provided within the nomination form will be used to assess the nomination. Should further information or clarification be required during the assessment process, contact may be made with the nominator, nominee, or referee as appropriate, and the Council will seek the nominee’s consent throughout the process. In addition, an invitation to the awards ceremony will be forwarded to the nominee’s address. All information provided will be held in accordance with the Data Protection Act/GDPR and will not be used for any other purpose.

  Please note:

  • All Nominations received on the official form will be acknowledged.
  • The decision of the Antrim and Newtownabbey Spirit of Volunteering Awards Assessment Panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into in respect of that decision.
• Tips for Nominating
  1. Don't assume that the assessment panel members know what the volunteer you are nominating does - Panel members can only assess the nomination based on the information that is provided on your nomination form therefore provide as much information as you can. Although panel members may know the volunteer nominated they cannot add any extra information to the assessment process.
  2. Talk to the volunteer you are thinking of nominating about their voluntary work or to others that know about their volunteering - It can be surprising to discover what other areas of voluntary work people are involved in. If you don't want the person to know that you are thinking of nominating them, simply have a conversation with them over a cup of tea/coffee to find out what else they do. You may find out that they have more volunteering experience than you realised.
  3. Tell the volunteer's story in simple terms – This will give the assessment panel members a better sense of what the volunteer does, write your nomination to clearly show how the voluntary work undertaken by the person you are nominating is making a difference in the local community. Keep it simple without overuse of jargon so that the nomination becomes real for the assessment panel members.
  4. Don't forget the small things that make a real difference - Everyone has something to offer to volunteering and every role is valued. When thinking of nominating a volunteer consider the small additional things that people do beyond their role. It may be that they are always there when needed; that they go that extra mile; that they are willing to undertake any duties; or always thinking of others and how they can help.
  5. Nominate as many of your volunteers as you wish to - organisations sometimes are reluctant to nominate one of their volunteers because they don't wish to single a volunteer out for special recognition above their other volunteers. We would encourage you to nominate as many volunteers as you wish, even better why not nominate all your volunteers as a team.
  6. We discourage the use of AI-generated content in your nomination form. The assessment panel will be looking for clear, specific examples written in your own words, as this helps ensure the submission reflects genuine experiences and achievements.

Mayor's Foreward

I am delighted to Champion the Antrim and Newtownabbey Spirit of Volunteering Awards 2026, an initiative that recognises the hard work, dedication, and quiet determination of the Borough’s unsung heroes.

Travelling across our Borough daily, I continue to witness at first-hand the extraordinary and selfless acts carried out by individuals and groups who give their time freely to improve the lives of others. Often, this work goes unseen and unrecognised, yet its impact is felt in every corner of our communities.

This year, we are proud to introduce a new theme for the awards: “Transformation through Volunteering”. This theme uses the butterfly metaphor to beautifully capture the journey, growth, and lasting impact of volunteering.

At the beginning of every volunteer’s journey is the caterpillar – the stage where small acts of kindness and commitment first take root. Like the caterpillar emerging from a tiny egg, volunteers often begin with something simple: a desire to help, a few hours of service, or small acts of kindness. While they may appear ordinary, they hold extraordinary potential. Over time, through experience and commitment, they learn, develop, and grow in confidence and capability.

Then comes the chrysalis – the quiet, unseen transformation. This is the stage where the most profound change often happens, though it is not always visible. Volunteers give their time in ways that are not always seen by others, through mentoring conversations, evening training sessions, late-night administrative work and quiet moments of emotional support for those in need. In these spaces, character is strengthened, purpose is deepened and skills are refined.

Finally, there is the emergence of the butterfly – the impact. With wings unfolded, it takes flight and brings colour, life and renewal wherever it goes. In the same way, volunteers emerge from their journey of growth to make a powerful difference in the world around them. They inspire others to get involved, bring vitality and life to their communities and often become leaders and changemakers in their own right. Their transformation extends far beyond themselves, it creates a lasting, collective impact.

Like the butterfly, a volunteer may never fully see the beauty of their own wings in flight, nor truly grasp the scale of the difference they make but we do. We see it in stronger communities, in lives changed and in hope restored. They are the wings of our Borough.

As Mayor, I am once again looking forward to hearing about the incredible individuals and groups who contribute so much across our Borough. If you know a volunteer or group who reflects this butterfly journey of transformation through their service and impact, I would encourage you to complete a nomination form and ensure they receive the recognition they so richly deserve.

Let us celebrate them. Let us recognise their journey and let us honour the transformation they bring to all our lives.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkptrick