A LUNCHEON club in York whose volunteers have been keeping pensioners happy for more than 30 years is in line for a top award.

Holgate Luncheon Club is the latest contender in the Service With A Smile category of our Community Pride Awards, being held in partnership with City of York Council and Benenden Healthcare Society.

It has been nominated by Ralph Skilbeck, who ran it for nearly 20 years before stepping down last December due to ill health, and his wife, Angela.

They said they wanted to give the volunteers some recognition for the excellent service they provide every Monday when the club meets at Holgate Methodist Church.

Mrs Skilbeck said: “The volunteers give their time for free, and a lot of them are older than the people who come.

“In these days when people grumble and say nobody does anything for anybody else, we just thought it would be nice that this willing band of helpers was given some recognition.

“The club has never had to cancel for lack of helpers and this particular bunch of volunteers really do offer service with a smile.”

The Service With A Smile category is aimed at York businesses and charitable organisations that have demonstrated outstanding customer care.

It is one of 13 categories in the 2010 Community Pride Awards, which are an annual event to honour unsung heroes living in the City of York Council tax area.

We are relying on you, our readers, to nominate the ordinary people who have quietly gone that little bit further to make a difference.

The deadline for entries is Friday, July 23.

To make a nomination, fill in the entry form and return it with a supporting statement setting out why your nominee deserves an award.


York Press: Community Pride Awards 2010 - categories and sponsors