DEDICATED and committed volunteers and organisations received recognition for their work at the first ever Community Awards for Teignbridge ceremony, held on Thursday last week.
It was arranged by the Teignbridge Strategic Partnership, in association with the Mid-Devon Advertiser series, to mark the achievements of many local residents.
The Citizen of the Year award was given to an individual who has devoted a lot of time and effort to helping others.
It was awarded to Kelly Hayman-Bruce, of Bovey Tracey, for her work with Macmillan Cancer Support.
Ms Hayman-Bruce has spent the past ten years raising money for the charity. She has worked tirelessly around the Teignbridge area and has raised more than £100,000 for the good cause.
'I was astonished when I found out I had won the award,' said Ms Hayman-Bruce.
'It is a great honour and I wouldn't have received it without the help of my fundraising team who are fantastic.
'It is the second award I have won in a month and this praise has made me even more determined to raise more money in the future and make more people aware of the charity.'
She received a certificate and a cheque for £200.
'I'll be giving my husband £100 to treat himself as he never sees me because of my charity work,' she said in jest.
The Young Citizen of the Year award was given to Nikita Lapton.
She joined Young Devon two years ago and it has turned her life around.
She was not really interested in education until the group started to organise a charity football tournament. With Nikita's love for football, she worked hard on the project, helping the event to become a great success. She also went along to various youth centres and schools to talk to other young people on the benefits of volunteering.
In her final year of school, she asked if she could do work experience with Young Devon two days per week and, even though her school year has now finished, Nikita is continuing with her volunteering work.
Nikita will have the honour of turning on Newton Abbot's Christmas lights this year.
The Community Project award was given to Christow Play Parks Group.
It was awarded to this organisation as it has worked tirelessly to raise money to refurbish the junior play area with new equipment that is more interesting and challenging to the children. The group also initiated the creation of a new play area for older children.
The Community in Need award is intended to help a group of people with a project that they are struggling to achieve or complete themselves. It was won by Meadowside Residential Home, which needs to be renovated.
The facility is a care home for a small group of people with special needs in Newton Abbot.
It was set up more than 20 years ago by the families and friends of the residents in order to ensure that the special care and attention that was needed was available.
Sandra Perraton, general manager of the Mid-Devon Advertiser series, who attended the event, said: 'The evening was a tribute to all volunteers whether nominated or not, whether shortlisted or not and whether they actually received the final award or they were runners up – they were all winners.'