Portsmouth's inspiring volunteers celebrated in centenary year at Inspiring Volunteer Awards

Volunteers from across the city were celebrated at the Portsmouth Inspiring Volunteer Awards at a special evening at the Kings Theatre in the city's centenary year.

Organised by Together in HIVE Portsmouth and Pompey in the Community, the awards recognise people who give their time, energy and kindness to make Portsmouth a better place.

This year's ceremony on Tuesday, October 6 took on extra meaning as the city marks 100 years since being granted city status, with the evening opening with a welcome from the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Abdul Kadir.

Awards were presented across ten categories, recognising individuals and teams working in areas from health and heritage to youth work, community action and leadership.

The top honour, Volunteer of the Year, went to Steven Harris of Tribe Southsea, a wellbeing and peer support community that brings men together through conversation, cold water immersion and mutual support.

Steve helps organise and run weekly Sunday morning sessions on Southsea Beach, giving men experiencing loneliness, anxiety, stress, grief or isolation a welcoming place to connect. He also supports members between sessions and arranges monthly social meet-ups through an online group, building a community where men know they are not alone.

Young Volunteer of the Year went to Libby Mell of Identical School of Dance, an inclusive dance school for children and adults with disabilities and additional needs. Libby started volunteering at 18 and has given her time every week for more than four years, supporting 40 students, making props and costumes, and chaperoning backstage at shows. Her nominators said the school could not run without her.

Sue Hussey of Age UK Portsmouth received the Behind the Scenes Award for 35 years of volunteering. Known to many as "Sue from Reception", she has volunteered two to three days a week, helping make the charity a place where older people feel safe, seen and heard.

The awards also celebrated Team 100, launched by Together in HIVE Portsmouth to mark the centenary by inviting people to give 100 hours of volunteering during 2026.

Lorna Reavley, Chief Officer of HIVE Portsmouth, said: "It was a privilege to celebrate so many remarkable people. Every nominee has made a real difference to someone in our city, whether they have volunteered for decades or only started this year. Steve, Libby and Sue are wonderful examples of what volunteering means in Portsmouth, and we are so grateful to all of them.

"A huge thank you to Pompey in the Community for working alongside us to make these awards happen, and to our sponsors, the Kings Theatre and everyone who took the time to nominate. In our centenary year, it felt fitting to recognise the people who help make Portsmouth what it is."

The awards were supported by sponsors Liquid Friday, Comserv Property Services, Bio-Bubble Technologies, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, Delivered Social, Pompey in the Community and Portsmouth City Council, with representatives from each presenting awards on the night.

Thanks also go to CCADS Theatre for performing, the Kings Theatre for hosting, and Zooming Photography for photographing the evening. Anyone inspired to get involved in volunteering can find opportunities across the city at volunteer.hiveportsmouth.com.