THE 100-strong team of volunteers from the Macmillan Horizon Centre in Brighton have received a regional volunteer award.

The accolade from Macmillan Cancer Support this month recognises dedication and commitment to support people affected by cancer in Sussex.

The Horizon Centre volunteers won the Service Team of the Year Award in the South East.

The criteria for winning the award is that it:

l provides support to Macmillan’s work in a particular area

l works together to support and understand the needs and views of people affected by cancer, highlighting the importance of teamwork

l offers tailored support and is there for people at their time of need

l shows commitment and determination, above and beyond the role to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

Centre manager Geoff Brown, who nominated the group, said: “They are a fantastic team of information, counselling, complementary therapy, café, peer support and body image volunteers.

“We are extremely grateful for the time they give to provide much-needed support to people affected by cancer.”

The volunteers provide a range of services such as information and support, complementary therapies, counselling, work in the café, head and neck buddies and physical activities.

As a thank you, they’ve all been invited on a trip on the Brighton seafront i360 on June 4, the start of Volunteers Week.

British Airways has donated the free places to the volunteers.

This will be followed by a fish and chip lunch at the Regency Café opposite.

Lyn Foster, one of the volunteers, said: “I volunteer for Macmillan because I wanted to say thank you for all the help the wonderful Macmillan nurses gave me when I had breast cancer.

“I find volunteering very rewarding and satisfying and always enjoy my shift in the cafe.

“I have met some amazing people and made new friends among the wonderful volunteers.

“To win an award is fantastic and so unexpected and I’m sure my fellow volunteers are as thrilled as I am to receive it.”

In the first 12 months of the centre being open, the volunteers donated more than 10,000 hours and enabled the centre to provide over 22,000 supported contacts.