Exceptional volunteers across Wales will be recognised for their "outstanding contribution" to their local communities today at the Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Nine winners, including six individuals and three groups, will be presented with their awards at a special ceremony at the National Assembly, hosted by the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration, Edwina Hart.

Featured among those receiving awards is A-level student Hussein Amir who volunteers with Displaced People in Action (DPIA), an agency working with asylum seekers and refugees in Wales, despite having a debilitating heart condition.

It is hoped that the awards will help raise the profile of volunteering. Fiona Liddell, training and information officer at Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), which is running the awards says: "Volunteers make an enormous contribution to Wales. These awards give us the chance to thank them for their hard work and also the opportunity to highlight the excellent work they have done. We hope the awards will inspire people to think about the difference volunteering could make in their community."

For more details about the event, including the full list of winners and their achievements, visit www.wcva.org.uk

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