A WOMAN who gives up her time to help families and children has been named as West Somerset's Star Volunteer 2015.

Charmaine Coates was given the honour at an awards ceremony held in the Beach Hotel in Minehead last Friday.

The event was organised by volunteering charity Engage to celebrate the contribution volunteers make to individuals and communities across West Somerset.

Charmaine also won the individual volunteer category, while the group honour went to St Margaret's Volunteers, Minehead, and a new environmental award sponsored by Exmoor National Park Authority went to John Chedgey, of Stogursey.

Chairman of Somerset County Council Cllr Christine Lawrence, who represents the Dunster division, presented Charmaine with her award and congratulated all the volunteers on their nominations.

"Volunteers are incredibly important to Somerset; they make things happen," she said at Friday's award ceremony.

Cllr Lawrence thanked Engage for organising the event, and highlighted the wide variety of invaluable work carried out by all volunteers.

Charmaine was nominated by Clare Pound for her work with Home-Start West Somerset, The Hub in Minehead and the Minehead Girls Brigade.

In her nomination Clare said: "Charmaine is a relatively new volunteer but the impact she has already made is immeasurable.

"Not only does Charmaine volunteer for Home-Start but also The Hub and the girls' brigade, she is incredibly generous with her own time in giving and helping others.

"She is one of the most kind and caring people I have ever had the pleasure to know."

Her work with Home-Start involves supporting a local family with weekly visits, helping them liaise with agencies, offering parenting advice and being a practical and lostening friend.

"The family wrote to me recently to thank me for bringing such a lovely lady into their lives," said Clare.

"The mum said Charmaine is absolutely amazing and a really big help to her."

She said Charmaine's own three daughters were now members of the girls' brigade as a result of her voluntary work with the organisation. She now leads the senior section.

Charmaine has been a volunteer at the Hub since its inception and was in the first group to train for helping with its soft play centre.

"She regularly mans the coffee bar there, and her homemade cakes are a real hit with staff and patrons," said Clare.

"Charmaine has a wonderful character, full of warmth and encouragement.

"She gives 100 per cent to each cause she volunteers for, she is reliable, friendly and is always thinking and doing that extra bit for everyone she helps."

The award for Star Group was presented by the Mayor of Minehead, Cllr Jean Parbrook, to St Margaret's Volunteers, Minehead.

The group provides community befriending services under the Sunflower Friend scheme and community support group services through the Somerset Cancer Care volunteers.

They were nominated by Kathy Hughes, who said: "Both roles are designed to support patients within their own community to live as well and as independently as possible, by providing vital support at what can be a very stressful time for both the patient and their carer."

She particularly praised befriender Kay Male who had volunteered with the Sunflower Friends for the last three years.

"Kay is always prepared to go the extra mile and provides support which is both practical and sensitive to the needs of the patient.

"I cannot recommend Kay and the Somerset Cancer Care volunteers highly enough.

"They have made a positive impact, contributing to and enhancing the live of St Margaret's patients and carers and also members of the wide community in the Minehead area.

"Without these volunteers, St Margaret's would not be able to provide this necessary support to patients and their carers within their community," Kathy said.

The new environmental award, sponsored by the park authority, was presented to John Chedgey by Cllr Andrea Davis, the chairman of the authority.

John was nominated by Stogursey Parish Council for his work looking after rights of way in and around Stogursey.

Cllr Davis who commended him, said: "Keeping footpaths clear is an important part of enabling people to enjoy our beautiful West Somerset countryside."

As a keen walker and parish resident, John stepped into the role after noticing many of his local paths were becoming overgrown.

He asked the parish council if they needed help maintaining the rights of way and was quickly signed up and trained by Somerset County Council.

In the nomination, Stogursey Parish Council clerk Aly Prowse, said: "John works full-time, so time off is precious to him.

"To dedicate so much time and effort in keeping the public rights of way accessible, often in all winds and weathers is, we think, very admirable.

"There are not many weekends that go by without John carrying out some work around the parish.

"We have many outdoor enthusiasts within the parish so many people can benefit from John's efforts."

Every individual and group nominated was presented with a certificate, and there was a special "Highly Commended" one for Ann Lewis, a long-time volunteer at Watchet's Phoenix Centre and the town's railway station shoip.

She started helping at the centre when it was run by the Red Cross, and was a founder member when it was re-born as the Phoenix Centre after the Red Cross pulled out of running it.

The winners of the individual and group categories will be put forward to be considered for Somerset County Council Chairman's Awards in the autumn, as part of the countywide Star Volunteer initiative.

Photos: Steve Guscott