Championing Community Spirit at the Derby Voluntary Sector Awards 2025

What an incredible evening we had at the 2025 Derby Voluntary Sector Awards!

One guest summed up the night perfectly, saying: “The event was so celebratory and had such a positive vibe – I didn’t realise how much I needed something so positive until we were there. I left feeling a lot lighter and rejuvenated by all of the heart-warming stories I heard.”

The Derby Voluntary Sector Awards is an annual event held during Volunteers’ Week, that champions the vital and often unrecognised work of volunteers, community groups and voluntary organisations in the city.

This year's event honoured 15 winners, who were selected from almost 200 nominations, and reflect the amazing community spirit across the city.

The evening shone a spotlight not only on individual volunteers, but also charities, grassroots initiatives, community groups, sports clubs, arts organisations and more - highlighting the broad and varied work carried out by Derby’s charity sector.

Kim Harper, CEO of Community Action Derby said:

“Every year I’m inspired by the dedication, kindness and creativity shown by people across Derby who give their time and energy to help others and make a difference. The awards night is always a highlight of the year for me – an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recognise the incredible contribution of volunteers, community groups, and voluntary organisations across our city. They truly are the heart and soul of Derby, especially at a time when the world needs community more than ever. At Community Action, we see the difference they make every day, so it’s brilliant to be able to shine a spotlight on them and say thank you.”

Awards were presented by a variety of special guests, including the Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Elizabeth Fothergill, who presented the Lifetime Achievement Award.

It was a truly heartwarming evening, filled with powerful stories and well-deserved recognition for the remarkable individuals and organisations driving change in Derby’s voluntary sector. The dedication and passion on display were truly inspiring.

We hope everyone enjoyed the night as much as we did! Huge thanks to our event partner Derby Homes, for making the night possible.

For more information about the event, including a full list of winners and photographs from the evening, click here