Volunteer of the Year is always a popular and hotly contested category at the Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

Last year’s very deserving winner was Bill Dale for the work he does to keep our beaches beautiful.

Every year the entries in the Volunteer of the Year category highlight just how many selfless people there are on the island, giving their time, money and energy to help our community. For them the Awards also offers a way to showcase the work of the charity or organisation they are so passionate about.

Bill Dale is undoubtedly passionate about Beach Buddies, the charity he founded in 2006.

Since then he has inspired thousands of volunteers to join him in his quest to keep the island’s beaches free of rubbish.

Bill says of his win at last year’s Awards:

’I have attended the Awards for Excellence on numerous occasions, as a photographer, but it’s an entirely different event when you are one of those nominated for an award.

’Beach Buddies has won a few awards in recent times, but the most prestigious was definitely the Awards for Excellence in 2016.

’When our name was announced we received a fantastic ovation, and the response subsequently has been exceptional, and the publicity has been invaluable.

’Shortly afterwards, I was awarded the British Empire Medal for Services to the Manx marine environment, so it has been an exceptional year, particularly our involvement with helping the Isle of Man achieve UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, and very recently an invitation to speak about the Beach Buddies’ story to Youngstown University, Ohio, later this year and there is also interest from New Zealand, Hawaii and Australia.

’We have also recently passed the total of 7,500 different volunteers being involved over the last four years, and that’s without counting the thousands of unknown volunteers who regularly throw items of rubbish into our special Beach Buddies’ bins all around the coastline.

’It has been a really amazing 12 months.’

Do you know an exceptional volunteer? If so, why not nominate them for an award?

It’s great publicity for their charity, community or cultural organisation, and great recognition for the work they do.

You can find full details of all the awards categories and download entry forms at www.iomtoday.co.im.