Sefton Council has awarded its highest civic honour – the Freedom of the Borough – to Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), recognising decades of outstanding service to communities across the borough.

The special ceremony took place at Bootle Town Hall last night, where councillors from all parties came together to formally present the honour. The Mayor of Sefton led the procession into the Council Chamber, where Councillor Marion Atkinson proposed the motion to bestow the honour on Sefton CVS. Councillor Atkinson stated it was a privilege, and she was humbled to be part of such an important event.

Highest Honour

The motion was seconded by Councillor Liz Dowd, who praised the charity’s work in strengthening communities and supporting vulnerable residents. Contributions by opposition parties from Councillor Mike Morris and Councillor John Pugh reflected cross-party appreciation for the organisation’s commitment and legacy.

Councillor Liz Dowd, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement, added: “We are incredibly proud to award the Freedom of the Borough to Sefton CVS. Their work touches every corner of our community – from volunteering to health support, from youth programmes to older people’s services. They make a real difference every day, and this honour reflects the deep appreciation we all feel.”

Chief Executive of Sefton CVS, Angela White OBE, accepted the ceremonial scroll on behalf of the organisation, followed by speeches from the Mayor - Councillor June Burns - Angela White and Mark Sonne, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Sefton CVS.

Improving Lives

Sefton CVS has supported the borough’s voluntary, community and faith sector for over 50 years, offering vital services ranging from funding advice and training to health and wellbeing programmes. Their work supports over 1,000 local groups and plays a key role in improving lives and promoting inclusion throughout Sefton.

Councillor Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “Sefton CVS is one of the cornerstones of our borough’s community life. This award is a recognition of decades of dedicated service and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. They are true partners in our shared mission to create a fair, strong, and compassionate Sefton.”

Angela White, Chief Executive of Sefton CVS, said: “I am hugely honoured to accept this wonderful Freedom of the Borough award on behalf of Sefton CVS, following the 50^th year since our inception. As a Council for Voluntary Service, we are proud to support and represent the vibrant and dedicated voluntary, community and faith (VCF) sector in Sefton. We are humbled by this recognition and feel the award is a testament not just to our organisation, but to the incredible work carried out by groups and volunteers across the whole voluntary sector.”

She added: “This honour also reflects the strength of our long-standing partnership with Sefton Council and key stakeholders and through this collaboration we remain proud to play a part in helping to make Sefton a stronger, more connected community.”

Dedication

Sefton Council would like to congratulate everyone at Sefton CVS – past and present – for their extraordinary service and their continued dedication to building a better borough for all.