A Proud Moment for Sunrise – Celebrating Our Incredible Volunteers and Community Spirit
We are absolutely delighted to announce that Sunrise Multicultural Project has won the Volunteer Organisation Award at the OCVA Volunteer Celebration Awards 2026!
This wonderful recognition from Oxfordshire Community & Voluntary Action (OCVA) celebrates organisations that demonstrate outstanding commitment to volunteering and make a positive difference in their communities.
The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday 17 June 2026 at Oxford Brookes University, bringing together inspiring volunteers and community organisations from across Oxfordshire to celebrate their achievements and contributions.
Representing Sunrise at the ceremony were Michelle Pollard, Candy McCourt and Anila Malik, with Michelle Pollard proudly accepting the award on behalf of the organisation.
It was an incredibly proud moment for the Sunrise team and a wonderful recognition of the dedication, compassion and community spirit that have been at the heart of our work for the past 30 years.
Recognising the Heart of Sunrise – Our Volunteers
At Sunrise, our volunteers are an essential part of everything we do.
They generously give their time, share their skills, support our activities and help create the warm, welcoming and inclusive environment that makes Sunrise so special.
From supporting community groups and children’s activities to helping organise events, providing practical assistance and offering friendship and encouragement, our volunteers make a meaningful difference to people’s lives every day.
OCVA recognised Sunrise’s commitment to providing an inclusive and supportive volunteering environment, where volunteers are encouraged to develop their confidence, learn new skills, build meaningful relationships and feel valued as part of the wider community.
A Special Achievement in Our 30th Anniversary Year
Receiving this award during Sunrise’s 30th anniversary year makes the achievement even more meaningful.
For three decades, Sunrise has supported individuals and families from diverse backgrounds across Banbury, promoting inclusion, wellbeing, education and stronger community connections.
Our volunteers have played an invaluable role throughout this journey, helping Sunrise grow from a small grassroots initiative into a trusted community charity.
This award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the people, partnerships and shared commitment that have shaped Sunrise over the years.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Volunteers
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to every volunteer who has contributed to Sunrise’s journey, past and present.
Your kindness, dedication, generosity and willingness to support others make a lasting difference to the people and families we work with.
We are also incredibly grateful to our staff, trustees, funders, partners and supporters who continue to champion our work and help create opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive.
A special thank you to OCVA for recognising our commitment to volunteering and for celebrating the invaluable contribution of volunteers and voluntary organisations across Oxfordshire.
This award belongs to everyone who has been part of the Sunrise journey, and we couldn’t be prouder!
Looking Ahead – Continuing to Make a Difference
As we celebrate this fantastic achievement, we remain committed to creating meaningful volunteering opportunities, empowering individuals and strengthening community connections.
We hope this recognition inspires even more people to discover the rewards of volunteering and become part of our Sunrise family.
Together, we can continue to make a positive difference, one act of kindness at a time.
Sunrise Celebrated by OCVA
Find out more about the awards and the inspiring individuals and organisations recognised this year:
Read the OCVA Volunteer Celebration Awards 2026 Official Announcement
Interested in Volunteering with Sunrise?
We would love to hear from you!
If you would like to volunteer, share your skills or support our community activities, please get in touch.
Sunrise Multicultural Project
Email: hello@sunrisemulticultural.org.uk
Telephone: 01295 701728
Celebrating our volunteers, our community and 30 years of making a difference! 💛