THE Torfaen Play Service Awards evening was a real inspiration this year.

The awards celebrate the hard work volunteers give as part of our playschemes.

This summer, more than 3,500 young people took part, including 147 children with disabilities or learning difficulties who require one-to-one support.

Without volunteers giving up their time to help, a lot of those children wouldn't be able to access such fantastic play provision.

The service doesn’t just operate in the summer - more than 150 volunteers are involved with supporting Torfaen’s Play Service, which runs seven days a week for the most needy children.

Over Christmas, 12 volunteers will help Torfaen Play Service offer respite care for at least 24 children with complex needs, enabling them to play safely and allowing parents and carers to have a short break.

Volunteers support the service to do something good in their community, to gain new skills, to make new friends and to help with their future careers.

Allanah McAnsh, aged 18, from Greenmeadow, who won the Volunteer of the Year Award, helps support children with disabilities.

Zac Carruthers, age 18, joined the play service three years ago as a volunteer, got trained up and is now a valued member of the team working with children and young people with special needs.

Katy Allen, age 22, started volunteering with the play service four years ago and is due to start a degree in community work in September.

She says: “I would have never thought I'd be able to do this, but what I've learnt from volunteering has helped me get to where I am.”

The play service is one great example among many of local people willing to step in to help others this Christmas – from foodbanks to charities and other organisations in our communities.

Thank you to everyone who made our Santa Appeal a great success - hundreds of presents have been donated for looked after children who might otherwise have gone without a gift this Christmas.

As the son of a nurse and a police officer, at this time of the year I also remember the public servants who work throughout Christmas to provide the vital services that keep people safe and well.

Thank you to all the local people who look out for others at this time of year.

If you have time, think of someone who might be lonely near you over Christmas, and pay them a visit.

After all, for all the commercialism of this time of year, that’s the true spirit of Christmas.