Caitlin Walsh has led her club’s junior programme with exceptional care, organisation, and creativity. She communicates clearly with coaches, prepares detailed session plans, and always keeps the needs of young players at the centre of her work. Caitlin creates a welcoming space where juniors feel safe, supported, and encouraged to progress at their own pace. Her ability to adapt feedback, introduce new skills in engaging ways, and nurture good sportsmanship has helped every team thrive this season. Patient, positive, and highly attentive, Caitlin has shaped an environment where young people grow not only in ability but in confidence and character. 

Alex Langeveld has grown with his club since joining at 13, becoming not only a strong player but an exceptional young coach. After earning his coaching qualification at 18, he immediately began supporting the club’s youngest age groups, bringing experience from NVL, North West teams, and national junior competitions. Alex creates a safe, positive environment where children from all backgrounds can learn, play, and develop. His sessions for the U16 girls and U18 boys are structured, varied, and engaging, helping players develop both motor skills and volleyball technique. Approachable, encouraging, and deeply committed, Alex has already made a significant impact.

Glyn Archibald has made an exceptional contribution to refereeing across NVL, BUCS, the Leicestershire league, and especially sitting volleyball, where he is known for his patience, clarity, and support for developing officials. New referees consistently describe Glyn as the person who made them feel confident enough to continue, thanks to his calm guidance before, during, and after their first matches. He regularly gives detailed technical feedback, answers questions long after game days, and offers his time without hesitation. His warmth, reassurance, and generosity have shaped the journeys of numerous new referees, making him a trusted mentor and a deeply valued ambassador for the sport. 

As an FIVB international referee, Katarina Cepinova brings world‑level expertise to every match she officiates, yet she remains deeply committed to local volleyball, regularly supporting junior tournaments, schools, regional leagues, and new officials. She is known for being approachable, clear, and unfailingly supportive, offering precise, scenario‑specific advice that helps referees grow in confidence and technique. Katarina often gives her own time to observe new referees, providing thoughtful feedback on movement patterns, positioning, signalling, and decision‑making. Her balance of professionalism and warmth makes her a standout mentor. She embodies the idea that learning never stops and lifts the standard of refereeing wherever she goes. 

Ryszard Dabrowski is recognised for his reliability, warmth, and exceptional willingness to support developing referees. Officiating three to four appointments each week, he still makes time to observe newer officials often staying after his own matches or travelling long distances to help them progress. Ryszard provides clear, focused guidance, adapting feedback to each referee’s level and patiently answering every question. His advice on positioning, signalling, teamwork within the officiating crew, and match management has been invaluable to those he mentors. Approachable, encouraging, and deeply committed to giving back, Ryszard consistently raises standards while helping new referees grow in confidence.

Over the past three years, Mark Marritt has refereed an exceptional number of NVL and regional matches, often volunteering his weekends to ensure fixtures run to a high standard. Known for his composure and fairness, Mark brings consistency to every match while supporting scorers, line judges, and developing referees with warmth and clarity. Junior officials value his calm mentoring and the confidence he gives them when refereeing alongside him. Despite his close ties with Nuneaton, Mark’s integrity is unwavering, his decisions are impartial, professional, and grounded in strong ethics. His commitment and passion make him a true ambassador for young referees. 

Irtiza Ahmad has become one of the most influential young voices in English volleyball. He is the only U18 member of Volleyball England’s Player Community Group and recently presented directly to the VE Board, advocating for improved junior competitions and youth accessibility. Alongside this national‑level impact, he coaches U18 boys and U15 teams, plans sessions, organises fixtures, and helps run youth 4v4 and 6v6 tournaments through the West Midlands committee. His leadership has contributed to historic results, including two wins against the Wales U18 National Team and strong performances in U18 National 2. Irtiza’s energy, empathy, and ambition inspire every young player he works with. 

Irene Uzokwe has created one of the most welcoming and consistently full beginner–intermediate sessions at her university, with Monday evening places filling almost instantly each week. Players returning from last year highlight a clear rise in professionalism, session quality, and drill design reflecting the detailed plans Irene develops alongside fellow HEVO Morrell. She carefully adapts activities to multiple ability levels, offers tailored technical feedback, and supports players beyond training through at‑home drills and club recommendations. Irene also played a key role in delivering the Winter Beginner/Intermediate Tournament, giving dozens of participants a chance to showcase their progress. Her warmth and structure have transformed the programme. 

As a long‑serving Senior HEVO, Joshua supports a network of HEVOs across more than 50 universities - a reach few volunteers can claim. Each week, he independently promotes every university HEVO match, strengthening visibility and connection across the programme. At training weekends, Josh is often the first to welcome new attendees, helping create a safe, inclusive atmosphere for more than 100 incoming HEVOs each academic cycle. He provides regular BUCS updates, encourages cross‑university engagement, and assists London HEVOs with their reporting. His enthusiasm, communication, and deep understanding of the programme make him one of its most influential and dependable contributors. 

Morrell Sotomi plays a central role in delivering high‑quality beginner/intermediate volleyball sessions, consistently drawing strong attendance and active engagement. He leads session planning, adjusting drills on the spot to match ability levels and ensuring players continually progress. Morrell strengthens the club community by encouraging members to watch BUCS matches, helping bridge the gap between performance squads and weekly-session players. His belief in his athletes is evident as he actively recommends individuals for third‑team selection and supports their development beyond the court. Morrell’s patience, approachability, and commitment have helped dozens of new players build confidence, skills, and lasting connections within the club. 

For more than 25 years, Jean Jacquet has been a central figure in the growth and identity of Cambridge Volleyball Club. His influence spans coaching, governance, partnerships, and events, shaping systems the club still depends on today. Jean raised competitive ambitions as head coach, led both senior squads to top‑flight volleyball, and helped establish a junior programme that continues to flourish. His longstanding work with local universities has deepened community links and strengthened pathways into the sport. Whether securing venues, handling transfers, offering advice, or running the Cambridge Volleyball Tournament, Jean quietly supports everyone around him. His legacy is woven into every part of the club. 

Across four decades, Neil Bates has built ENVC Rushden into a vibrant, welcoming volleyball community that has touched hundreds of lives. From starting the club in 1985 with six players, raising money for equipment through odd jobs, to leading teams across junior and senior levels, Neil’s dedication has shaped generations of athletes directly impacting between 400–500 players over the years. Neil’s kindness, patience, and clear guidance have created an environment where players of all ages and backgrounds feel valued. Four of his children now play, and three coach, reflecting his influence. Even at 63, Neil continues to coach, play, travel to tournaments, and run summer sessions. Referred to as the backbone of club’s operations, Neil’s devotion to the sport is exceptional and enduring. 

Andre Castro has been the driving force behind the growth and ethos of Roots Volleyball, shaping a club built on integrity, fairness, and opportunity. He champions transparent pathways, insists on fair pay for coaches, and invests deeply in mentoring and coach development raising standards across the wider community. Much of Andre’s impact happens quietly: designing programmes, overseeing safeguarding, managing logistics, and ensuring sessions run seamlessly as he arrives first and leaves last. His work has created sustainable youth pathways that introduce more young people to volleyball and support their long‑term development. Andre’s values‑led leadership continues to elevate everyone around him.

In the North East, Claire Shorting has become the backbone of regional junior volleyball, dedicating countless evenings and alternate weekends to ensuring young athletes have opportunities to train, compete, and belong. She single‑handedly coordinates both boys’ and girls’ teams, manages fees across multiple clubs, supports coaching, and leads fundraising efforts - all while balancing commitments to her own club. Claire connects families, players, and volunteers with warmth and inclusivity, creating an environment where juniors feel supported and welcome. Her behind‑the‑scenes work enables regional teams to exist at all, and many players credit their involvement to her encouragement. Claire’s quiet dedication makes her indispensable.