This award goes to an individual or group who has made a positive impact within the community. The award is given to an individual or group who has shown dedication and commitment to an organisation and is an excellent advocate for that organisation. This individual or group demonstrates that they continually go over and above expectations. 

The winner is...

Nikolaos Arkoulis 

Nikolaos commits his time to six organisations in the local community across Plymouth and sets himself consistently high standards to go above and beyond his own expectations. 

His roles include: 

• Information Advice Assistant at Advice Plymouth - Improving Lives Plymouth 
• Anti-Social Behaviour Project - Victim Support 
• Community Connector - British Red Cross 
• Sexual Abuse Prevention Project in Plymouth - Circles South West 
• Court-Based Support Worker - Citizens Advice Witness Service in Plymouth Crown and Magistrates' Court 
• Community Practical Days - Devon and Cornwall Police. 

His vast range of roles require a huge number of different skills and personal qualities. With Advice Plymouth, Nikolaos signposts people to information on topics such as debt and benefits. In his role at Victim Support he is trained to help victims to overcome the physiological effects of crime. He helps people affected by loneliness to improve their confidence with the Red Cross. Nikolaos also works with the Police to monitor offenders’ safe reintegration into the community and with the Citizens Advice Witness Service supports witnesses with the emotional effects of testifying in Court. 

Nikolaos is described by those who’ve nominated as “not only a great friend, but a kind and trustworthy person you can always rely on”. His outstanding commitment to so many vital causes in and around Plymouth are a testament to his self-confessed “passion for the exploration of social justice” and with such an open-minded, team-orientated and positive attitude he is not only contributing to keeping Plymouth safe but also meeting his goal of “making our world better”. 

The following were shortlisted for this award, read more about what they’ve achieved this year. 

University of Plymouth Tennis Club (UPTC)

The University of Plymouth Tennis Club (UPTC) this year have worked towards helping communities both within the University of Plymouth student body and in the local community. 

This year they have successfully run a rainbow laces campaign, selling over 250 pairs and raising over £600 for Stonewall UK, a charity dedicated to championing LGBT equality. The campaign harnessed the power that sport has in bringing people together and giving people a sense of belonging by engaging 15 different clubs with the campaign. Clubs not only purchased the laces but were encourage to share photos on social media to raise awareness of inclusivity in sport. Promotion through social media led to two schools also placing an order for the laces to distribute to students during PE classes. UPTC have also ventured out into the local community by working with the Special Olympics Plymouth & District to deliver a tennis session which was such a success that a further five were booked but unfortunately had to be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

“Our session for the Special Olympics, was such a rewarding experience. Working with the organisation was amazing, they dedicate their time to enhance the lives of those with intellectual (Learning) disabilities through the use of sport. Unfortunately, tennis is not a sport they can run on a weekly basis due to lack of volunteers, this was therefore the start of ensuring this changes.”