Rugby Town Guides taste success at CAVA volunteer awards

The team of volunteer guides walked away with the Art, Culture and Heritage Group Award at Tuesday evening's (10 October) ceremony at the Benn Hall.

Warwickshire and Solihull CAVA stages the annual awards to celebrate the work of volunteers in the borough, with prizes presented across a range of categories - including health and wellbeing, leisure and sports, and the environment.

The town guides were launched in 2015, when England hosted the Rugby World Cup and Rugby was granted 'Proud Home' status for the tournament by World Rugby.

Based at Rugby Visitor Centre, the expert guides take residents and visitors on a tour of the town centre's iconic buildings and landmarks, including the Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum, The Queen's Gates at the entrance of The Close at Rugby School, the statue of Rupert Brooke and the monument to Sir Frank Whittle.

Tours take place every Saturday from the spring through to the autumn, with tours set to take place until the end of October.

For more information and to book a place on a tour, visit: www.therugbytown.co.uk/townguides

Sam Morris made it a double success for the council's arts and heritage services at the volunteer awards after he was presented with the Inspirational Young Person Award.

Warwickshire College student Sam had to volunteer as part of his art and design course, and reached out to Rugby Art Gallery and Museum to get involved with the preparations for the Kapow - The Art of Making Comics and Film exhibition.

Such was Sam's enthusiasm and dedication, he volunteered for 70 hours more than his course required and made a major creative contribution to the exhibition, which attracted nearly 10,000 visitors to the art gallery over the summer.

Sally Godden, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum manager, said: "Sam really made his mark on the Kapow exhibition, with his ideas and passion for the project making him a valued member of the team.

"It was great to watch Sam grow in confidence throughout his time volunteering with us and his CAVA award was richly deserved.

"The Art, Culture and Heritage Group Award was also a fitting reward for the Rugby Town Guides, who have devoted hundreds of hours to conducting our free tours.

"The expert knowledge each guide brings to the tours means even lifelong Rugby residents often learn new tales from the town's history, and every guide has become a valued ambassador for the borough."

Warwickshire and Solihull CAVA supports Rugby's voluntary and community sector to deliver services for the borough's communities.

For more information, visit www.wcava.org.uk