A VOLUNTEER who brings a “ray of sunshine” to the fundraising events of a York charity has been nominated for a Community Pride award.

Alison Skilbeck does not let her learning difficulties hold her back from being an invaluable member of the volunteer team at Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY).

She also interviews new staff for Talkback North Yorkshire – an advocacy group for the carers of people with learning disabilities – and used to help out at the WRVS coffee shop at York Hospital before it closed last November.

Her remarkable contribution to the community has prompted Linda Tester, advocacy service manager at OCAY, to put her forward in the Volunteer Of The Year category of our Community Pride Awards, which we are running in partnership with City of York Council and Benenden Healthcare Society.

Linda said: “Alison has a learning disability, but she does not let that stop her from being our top volunteer at our fundraising events.

“Once she started to help out OCAY she was so keen she couldn’t wait until the next time and very soon she became an invaluable part of the OCAY team.

“Now, if she ever misses one of our events everyone asks where she is.

“As well as being a number one washer-up, she also spends time talking to the other volunteers and is very good at making sure that everyone is happy.

“Alison adds a real ray of sunshine to our events and we would be lost without her.”

She said Alison, who lives in Huntington, had recently completed a Tomorrow’s Leaders course run by Inclusion North – an organisation that works to promote the inclusion of people with learning disabilities.

Linda said: “Alison is a joy to have as a volunteer and she gives a great deal to OCAY and all of us involved with OCAY.

“I feel that she deserves to be the Community Pride Volunteer Of The Year because she certainly is ours.”

To nominate an unsung hero, fill in the coupon and send it in along with a supporting statement before the closing date on July 23.