A volunteer at a popular community centre has been honoured at a special awards ceremony.

Successes were celebrated as Ormiston Families brought together more than 80 employees, volunteers, fundraisers and trustees at an awards ceremony to recognise their outstanding work.

The ceremony at Chelmsford City Racecourse last month saw staff, volunteers and fundraisers recognised – with award winners including Lowestoft-based Kevin Bellis.

Mr Bellis, a volunteer at Ormiston Families' Boston Lodge community centre, was awarded the Care and Compassion award. Hailed for going beyond his call of duty, Mr Bellis has involved young people in projects and maintenance work at Boston Lodge, passing on his transferrable skills to those who use the community hub.

The centre, based in Boston Road, Lowestoft, is operated by Ormiston Families for the benefit of local residents. The centre is accessible to everyone in the community and Ormiston Families provides a variety of group activities and services, such as fitness classes, writing groups and mental health support activities.

Mr Bellis said: 'It is such an honour to receive the Care and Compassion award for the work I do at Boston Lodge.

'I am looking forward to continuing my work and making a difference to the lives of young people and families in 2018.'

The Ormiston Families' MPower team were awarded Team of the Year for their dedication and hard work across the East of England, including their services in Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and Norwich.

Alison Gillies, Mpower services manager, said: 'It is such an honour to receive team of the year.

'The MPower team are a highly dedicated and compassionate team working with women who face challenges many of us would find difficult to understand.'

Mark Heasman, chief executive of Ormiston Families, said: 'As a charity we have many successes to celebrate this year, it has been an amazing year of consolidation and growth both in our operations and finances.'

Ormiston Families provides wide-ranging support for children and young people, with the charity's vision of a world in which every child will be loved, nurtured and valued.