TWO union reps in Dorset have been honoured for their selfless dedication in the first ever South West’s TUC awards this week.

Sally Childs, a Unison rep for NHS Dorset in Dorchester has won the environmental category for spearheading a number of environmental initiatives including Green Office Weeks, installing recycling facilities, encouraging staff to walk or cycle to work and identifying green champions in the office.

She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have won this award.

“It’s nice to be recognised for all the work I do for the trust because it is quite a challenging role.”

As well as being the personal assistant to the director of finance and performance Mrs Childs is also the trust’s performance and sustainability officer.

She has worked for the NHS in Dorset for 22 years.

Debi Potter, who works for Dorset Police in Dorchester, is a joint winner in the union rep category.

She was nominated for her outstanding representation of members in negotiating changes to conditions and redundancy.

After being seconded to the role of branch secretary Miss Potter has had to deal with a year of upheaval including redundancies and cut backs after the force received a decreased government payout.

She said: “The job requires resilience dealing with people in troubled times and learning not to take it personally when people are upset with the situation.”

Responding to the award Miss Potter said: “It’s fantastic that I’ve won and rare to be recognised in this sort of role.

“I’m chuffed to bits.”

In total 13 individuals and two groups from across the region who will receive awards for their outstanding work in representing their colleagues and for their achievements in promoting equality, health & safety and learning in the workplace.

The ceremony took place in Bristol yesterday.

South West TUC Regional Secretary Nigel Costley said: “This is a great way of acknowledging the tremendous work done by volunteers on behalf of their workmates and trades unions.

“This is the real story of what trades unions do day in, day out on behalf of working people – keeping them safe, helping them learn, promoting equality and representing them in every aspect of their employment.”