Organised by C3SC, the Cardiff Volunteer Awards brings our members, partners and supporters together each year to celebrate the people who give their time, energy and heart to helping those in need. This is our thank you to volunteers.
Photo description: Yevheniia Rizina accepts her award as winner of the Volunteer of the Year at the Cardiff Volunteer Awards 2025.
Now in its eighth year, the Cardiff Volunteer Awards is one of the most anticipated events in C3SC’s annual calendar – and for good reason. Every year, we are humbled and inspired by the stories of volunteers, community groups and organisations across Cardiff who quietly go above and beyond for those around them. Whether someone has clocked years of dedicated service or stepped up to make a difference in their community for the first time, we believe every generosity deserves to be recognised. We need your help to shine a light on those unsung heroes. Nominations open on 1 June 2026.
Let’s make this our biggest year yet.
Categories
Nominations to the Cardiff Volunteer Awards 2025 are made against the following categories:
- Volunteer of the Year (Over 25 years of age) – awarded to a volunteer in this age category who has made a significant impact in their community through volunteering
- Young Volunteer of the Year (25 years and under) –for a volunteer in this age category who has made a notable difference in their community through volunteering
- Volunteer Group of the Year – Any group of 3 or more volunteers that work together; this could be a not-for-profit group whether constituted or non-constituted, a registered charity, or a social enterprise.
- Volunteer Coordinator of the Year –A person who supports others to volunteer or coordinates volunteering activities – including volunteer managers, coordinators or someone who leads a voluntary team, group, or organisation.
- Trustee of the Year – a trustee or member of a management committee who has supported their group to achieve positive outcomes through positive leadership and teamwork
- Outstanding Community Volunteer – An individual who has made a significant contribution to a local community or cause – for example, through long-service, or overcoming barriers, or involvement in an impactful activity or project – and has made a notable positive difference in our communities through volunteering.
- Inclusive Business of the Year –A third, public or private sector organisation which has developed inclusive, ethical, and sustainable working practices – through promoting volunteering, employee-led initiatives, Employer Supported Volunteering, inclusive partnership working, fair investment and/or pro-bono work.
The following categories are not open for public vote. Winners are selected from the volunteering-wales.net portal and will be announced at the Awards ceremony:
- VW Most Active Volunteer
- VW Most Active Provider
The final category is decided based on the impact youth grant projects made on communities working with particular target groups and priority target areas. The winner of this category is selected from the 2025-26 projects.
- Youth Led Grant Project of the Year
Nominations to the Cardiff Volunteer Awards 2026 are now open!
Information Session
Join us for a one-hour online session to learn more about the Cardiff Volunteer Awards 2026 nomination process, where we will explain who is eligible to be nominated and how category winners are selected by a panel of judges.
Date: Tuesday 23 June 2026
Time: 18:00 – 19:00
Place: Online, Microsoft Teams
Photo description: Hope St Mellons win Volunteer Group of the Year at the Cardiff Volunteer Awards 2025.
FAQs
Who is eligible to be nominated?
We welcome nominations from individuals and groups in Cardiff. Nominees must either live in Cardiff or undertake their volunteering work in Cardiff. The groups nominated must be based in Cardiff or work in Cardiff. Permission must be sought from the person or group nominated.
Please note that individuals cannot nominate themselves.
Can I nominate more than once?
Yes! You can nominate more than one individual or group at a time. Please submit a new form for each application and make sure each individual or group are aware of the nomination. This also includes nominating the same individual or group for different categories. E.g. The same individual nominated in two categories will be treated as two nominations.
I want to nominate but don’t know how. Can you help?
Once the nomination rounds are open, we will look to arrange some information sessions on how to make your nomination.
However if you prefer, the Team @C3SC would be more than happy to assist you with the nomination form, and any access requirements you may have. Please get in touch with the Cardiff Volunteer Centre team at volunteer@c3sc.org.uk.
I made a mistake on the nomination form I submitted. What shall I do?
If you have submitted a nomination form but feel that you have made a mistake, please get in touch with us as soon as possible to make the necessary changes. Contact us at volunteer@c3sc.org.uk with your name, organisation and nominee details and one of the team will be in touch.
How are the Winners decided?
Once the nomination round closes, all nominations are sorted into their respective categories ready for the judging panel to review the applications before meeting formally to discuss their scoring. Each judge will score independently from each other to remove any biases.
Please note that while some nominees may be nominated by multiple people, this will not have any effect on the scoring as to keep the process as fair as possible.
Can I complete a nomination in a different language?
Absolutely! The nomination form is on Microsoft Forms. We have enabled multilingual input from community languages, including Arabic, Urdu, Spanish, French, Polish, and Ukranian.
When will we find out who won?
Winners of the Cardiff Volunteer Awards are announced live at the awards ceremony event! Winner information is not publicised or shared anywhere publicly before the ceremony.
Would you like to sponsor the Cardiff Volunteer Awards 2026?
Call us now to make an offer and support our biggest event! Limited spaces.
The Cardiff Volunteer Awards continues to grow year on year, and none of it would be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. By partnering with us, you’ll play a direct role in celebrating the thousands of volunteers across Cardiff who give their time freely to support their communities – while also raising your organisation’s profile at one of the highlights of the Cardiff third sector calendar.
Whether through a sponsorship package, a monetary donation, a gift in kind, or by hosting a stall, there are a variety of ways to get involved to suit all budgets. All sponsors benefit from free publicity as part of their package. With four levels of sponsorship available, this is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and showcase your values to a wide and engaged audience.
Interested in sponsoring the Cardiff Volunteer Awards 2026? Call us on 02920 485 722 or email enquiries@c3sc.org.uk to find out more and secure your place.