Alexander lands volunteer award
FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD Alexander Gaughan from Ormskirk has been recognised as one of the county’s brightest sports volunteers.
Winner of the Young Volunteer of the Year category, Alexander was recognised for his unwavering commitment to Ormskirk School, Ormskirk Rugby Club and Town Green Girls Football Team.
As well as being a school and club-level rugby player and athlete, Alexander still manages to find the time to dedicate between three to 30 hours per week to volunteering.
Helping out with the organisation and refereeing/umpiring of games/competition, he has also coached a number of sessions, as well as training and mentoring younger sports leaders.
With ambitions to be a PE teacher, the Ormskirk School pupil has completed more than 450 hours of volunteering both in school and the community over the last three years for which he received a Youth Sport Trust ‘Lead 2 Employability’ Double Gold Award.
Alexander was one of 20 volunteers, facilitators and clubs recognised on the night across nine categories by Lancashire Sport Partnership, an organisation which works to improve health and wellbeing across the county by encouraging active lifestyles.
Celebrating sporting achievement and recognising individuals’ dedication and contribution to sport and community activity, the glittering ceremony was held on Friday, November 25.
The event attracted more than 400 guests, including local authority partners and a who’s who of the county’s sporting sector.
Adrian Leather, chief executive of Lancashire Sport Partnership (LSP), said: “The awards pay tribute to people, young and old, that show dedication to perform at the highest level or those who work tirelessly to support individuals or clubs week in, week out, for the love of sport.
“As an organisation that exists to encourage people to participate, or volunteer in sport, we’re delighted to have crowned this year’s winners, without whom we wouldn’t have the infrastructure to support and help people of all ages get involved in something which is great for the mind and body.
“The recent Olympics and Paralympics did a great job to raise the profile of sport. We hope that they, and these awards, will encourage people to give sport a go. Whether it be on the pitch, court or sidelines, we can all work together to make Lancashire a happier and healthier place.”
The event was sponsored by organisations including Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), the University of Cumbria and Places for People.
For more information www.lancashiresport.org.uk visit