PRAISE was heaped on volunteers from across Southampton as they received certificates commending them for their hard work.

The Mayor of Southampton, Cllr Sue Blatchford, handed over certificates to 20 volunteers thanking them for putting at least 100 hours of voluntary care.

The volunteers represented ten different Southampton-based organisations.

Over the past 11 years Jan Peirson has collected more than £40,000 for youth disability charity the Rose Road Association by organising fundraising events.

Jan, from the Butts Road area of Sholing said: “It was wonderful to be recognised.

“I couldn’t have raised the money without my friends who always help and people who give me love and support.

“I get great pleasure from people responding to my appeals.

“I’m always on the look-out for cash for the charity. It’s a local charity. They would allow me to have the input for what is bought.

“I always want them to buy something specific with the money I raise.”

For more than 20 years, Southampton Voluntary Services has celebrated the volunteers who work for the city’s vast array of charities with a certificate scheme.

Individuals who have given at least 100 hours of volunteering time are nominated by the organisation they work for.

Jo Ash, chief executive of Southampton Voluntary Services said: “We hope that the scheme will continue to be as successful in future and we would like to give our thanks to all the volunteers for their brilliant dedication and the contribution they have made to the city and civic life.”

Individuals represented organisations including No Limits, Communicare, Southampton Sunday Lunch Project, Young Carers Project, Safe in Sound, the Rose Road Association, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, University of Southampton Students Union, Awaaz FM Community Radio, and the Shaw Trust.