A BRACKNELL church thanked its many volunteers at a lively awards ceremony held last month.

Kerith Community Church rolled out the red carpet for the ceremony, while dresses and dinner jackets was the dress code for the event, held on Sunday, March 4. This annual awards ceremony – which opened with a number from High School Musical – was set up to thank the more than 200-strong volunteers at Kerith, who give up their time so the bustling Church can function on a day-to-day basis. Ben Oliver, the event’s main organiser and host, opening the proceedings by reminding people that “nothing happens here [at Kerith] unless someone volunteers”.Volunteers were awarded Oscar-esque trophies and, in one case, a basket load of Yorkie bars. Categories included Unsung Hero, Outreach, Dream Team and Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.Kerith’s senior pastor Simon Benham is also grateful to the fundamental and wide-ranging role played by volunteers at the church. “Everything we do as a church – Foodbank, kids work, youth work, support groups for single parents and people looking for work, debt counselling, supporting families with children with special needs – relies on volunteers to make it happen.

“It was brilliant to spend an evening celebrating and thanking some of those amazing people.”