Voluntary Action Shetland (VAS) are delighted to announce the launch of the 2025 VAS Volunteering Awards, to recognise the amazing volunteering and acts of kindness happening throughout the Shetland Islands.
The awards consist of two categories, the ‘Willin Haands Award’ for adults aged 26 and over, and the ‘Peerie Trows Award’ for children 11 and under. The awards will be complementing the national Saltire Awards scheme, which VAS deliver annually to recognise young people aged 11 to 25.
The aim of the VAS Volunteering Awards is to recognise and celebrate Shetland’s many willing helpers and volunteers of all ages who help out and volunteer in their communities the length and breadth of Shetland. We recognise all volunteers both formal and informal who help out through volunteer involving organisations and informally by helping in their local communities, supporting neighbours with shopping, seeing they are ok, baking for teas, litter picking and many other activities.
To coincide with this year's Trustees Week in November, perhaps you might like to nominate some volunteers who do so much good work running committees, volunteer on Boards or are Trustees of a charity. You can nominate individuals or a committee as a whole.
The VAS Volunteering Awards (VAS-VAs) are nomination-based, anyone can nominate (whether they are an individual or an organisation) someone, adult or child who volunteers or has volunteered. Please read the nomination guidelines before nominating someone for the awards.
Do you know anyone who deserves a thank you for helping out in their community, someone who quietly helps other folk, someone who helps at community events, volunteers with an organisation, serves on a committee, a community stalwart? If you would like to say thank you or recognise someone for all their efforts then complete a nomination form.
The nominations open today, Tuesday 23rd September and close on the 14th October. To nominate, folk can fill in the online form or contact VAS Volunteering for a paper format.
Awardees will receive a certificate and their volunteering stories will be celebrated on the Voluntary Action Shetland social media channels and a summary shared with the local press.
