The Best of Darlington Award Ceremony was held on the 14th June 2019. Congratulations to all winners and finalists – you really are the Best of Darlington!
For more photos and the full list of all finalists and winners, please visit www.onedarlington.org.uk.

Exceptional Volunteer was Sponsored by Tees Valley Rural Action
The judges award this to an individual or group who has shown outstanding commitment in their voluntary field without expectation of reward or recognition. This might be the length of time someone has volunteered, the breadth of responsibility that they have taken or the sacrifice they made in order to volunteer.

2019 Winner: Team JJ at Café JJ
Café JJ first opened in October 2007 with two learning disabled young men as volunteers. Now, over eleven years later, 12 learning disabled people volunteer for five hours every Monday and five hours every Tuesday to prepare food and serve customers from the local community
All the work hard to gain catering and waiting on skills. They come to their volunteer jobs full of enthusiasm and keen to do all they can to serve customers in the local community.
In 2016, Team JJ were awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service Through their dedication to volunteering, the twelve members of Team JJ have demonstrated what learning disabled people are capable of when given a chance.
Award presented by our very own Rita Lawson, Tees Valley Rural Action