Vale Woman of the Year Awards
Denny White has been awarded the prestigious title of Vale Woman of the Year 2008 in a glittering awards ceremony, which took place at the Memorial Hall in Barry on Thursday 6 March.
The inaugural event, which celebrated International Women's Day, honoured local women and their achievements. It was organised through the Vale of Glamorgan Council with the support of a number of organisations from the private and voluntary sectors and was hosted by BBC Wales presenter Jason Mohammad.
Denny has responsibility for dealing with issues such as fly tipping, graffiti and abandoned vehicles across the Vale of Glamorgan. She champions improvements and encourages offenders to contribute to their local communities.
See here for a complete list of winners and runners up, plus photographs from the evening.
Council Leader, Cllr Margaret Alexander said: "There was an amazing cross-section of women of all ages who gained awards. All had stories to tell, many of which were moving and inspirational. Many congratulations to Denny White, Vale Woman of the Year 2008, who has not only given a new dimension to waste management but with her ability to `think outside the box` has given many youngsters a second chance to make something of their lives. Everyone, though, was a real winner for their wonderful work and their contribution to the Vale community.
"Jason Mohammed was an able host for the evening but really the presence of all those amazing women quite eclipsed him. The whole evening was a showcase for all that is excellent in the Vale of Glamorgan."
Cllr Alexander added: "I would like to congratulate Edwina Vaughan and the staff at the Enterprise centre, Skomer Road for the magnificent evening. Thanks must also go to Barry College for the very appetising buffet and the Vibe Experience for the special effects and entertainment."
The award organisers are extremely grateful to organisations who sponsored each category -
Business - Vale Women's Business Network
Sports Volunteer - Hydrofitness Centre, Barry
Community - Newydd Housing Association
Public Servant - Barry College
Carer - Little Inspirations Day Nursery Ltd
Learner - Vale Learning Network
Young Achiever - Aberthaw Power Station npower
Woman Returner - BTCV Enterprises
Vale Woman of the Year - Aberthaw Power Station npower
The event was also made possible due to grants from the Welsh Assembly Government and the Active Citizenship Fund.