OLD favourites and a young leading light in the voluntary world have shared the honours at the Pride in Rossendale 2011 awards.

More than 130 guests packed The Riverside at Whitworth to pay tribute to the selfless souls who give more than their fair share to improving life for everyone in the valley.

Fifteen-year-old Jared Brown, who volunteers with VISION in Rawtenstall, helps to run a weekly get-together for younger teenagers and a youth cafe on the Hall Carr estate.

Naming him young volunteer of the year, judges paid tribute to how he was ‘conscientious and an excellent role model’ for other young people.

Work to bring about the return of Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival, staged again in 2010 after a six-year gap, earned organisers the community event of the year gong.

While the other key individual prize, for volunteer of the year, was scooped by Bryan Lamb, who has co-ordinated the work of Rubicon, a support group for people with depression and mental illness based at the Acre Mill Baptist Church in Stacksteads.

Four days a week the service offers painting classes, games, snooker, craft work, exercise classes, knitting and counselling sessions with trained helpers.

Friends of Victoria Park, in Haslingden, walked away with the environment pride award for restoring the venue to its Victorian heyday, and drawing up proposals for a £100,000 National Lottery bid to take their project further.

Rossendale Radio, based at the Agapao Centre in Bury Road, Haslingden, earned top honours in the business category for their record this year supporting charity events.

Meanwhile Bacup Family Centre, based on the town’s Pennine Road estate, was presented with the trophy for best community group of the year.

Volunteers there host everything from a nearly new shop to a dads group, while offering support to hard-pressed families in their own homes.

A Rossendale council spokesman said: “The awards recognise the outstanding performance and dedication shown by individuals and groups living and working in the local community.”

Rossendale Mayor Coun Trevor Unsworth, who handed out the awards, gave a special certificate to Help Haslingden Support Charity, based at the town’s high school.