COMMUNITY spirited award winners have revealed they will be donating their winnings back to worthy causes.

Volunteers, police and council workers were just a few of public sector workers who picked up prizes for going the extra mile at the annual Pat on the Back awards.

Christine Connell and Doreen Mitchell took the Volunteering Award for their work as the management team at Ivy Street Community Centre, Blackburn.

Christine said: “We are going to spend the money on the community.

“We are going to spend it on Christmas dinner for people in need. We’ll put on the big meal and give each and everyone of them a gift. If there’s money left, we’ll get a new shed for the allotment.”

More than 18 winner and runner-up prizes were handed out during the cere-mony in Scholar’s restaurant at Blackburn College in categories such as Employee of the Year, Volunteering Award and Team of the Year.

As well as a certificate winners received £600 and runners-up were given £300.

Jed Sodagar, anti-social behaviour officer at Twin Valley Homes, and Andy Mather, support co-ordinator at Blackburn College, were joint winners of the Employee of the Year award.

Jed said: “The money will be going to Bank Top neighbourhood policing team for crime prevention to help witnesses and victims of anti-social behaviour.”

Andy said he would use the money to take some young people to the Middlewood Ecological Trust in Lancaster.

Mateen Kamaluddu, from the police, won the Safe Award for his work with mosques, madrassahs, schools and community groups as well as raising awareness about the government’s counter terrorism agenda.

The money will be donated to groups that he has worked with which could culminate into one big project.