Charity Suzyo Nyirenda has been named Islington’s Volunteer of the Year 2019 for her work to support women living with HIV.

She volunteers for Positively UK, who support people living with HIV with many people living within the borough who access their services.

Charity, who lives with HIV and has had the courage to be the face of many HIV stigma campaigns, has been volunteering for many years and a lot of the women she has supported have been inspired to volunteer themselves.

She said: “When I heard that I was receiving the award for Volunteer of the Year, I was absolutely shocked and astounded that I had even been considered for this.

“It made me feel extremely humble as I don’t volunteer to get any reward or recognition, I do it because I care. Once it sunk in I was overjoyed and very excited to receive such an accolade and ultimately thankful that I had been appreciated.”

Charity was one of the recipients of five awards presented by Voluntary Action Islington, a local organisation that connects people with volunteering opportunities across the borough.

The full list of winners is:

Sherrie Giraud, Young Volunteer of the Year (16-25), Mixed Martial Arts

Wendy Barnes, Older Volunteer of the Year (60+), HNG Stress project

Outpost: Volunteer Shop & Gallery Assistants, Volunteering Team of the Year, Peter Bedford

Paul Formosa, Pat Haynes Memorial Trustee of the Year, Centre 404

Charity Nyirenda, Volunteer of the Year (26-60), PositivelyUK

Find out more on the Voluntary Action Islington website