Haringey’s Judith Pedersen wins 2016 Volunteer of the Year prize at National Badminton Awards

Haringey’s Judith Pedersen has won the 2016 Volunteer of the Year prize at the National Badminton Awards at the All England tournament in Birmingham.

Pedersen helps to coach and run Alexandra Park Junior Badminton Club, based at Alexandra Park School.

She attends all six training sessions every week, assisting and organising each of the 129 current junior members. Last November, she led the club in a great fundraising effort for Badminton4Macmillan, with £5,134 being raised for Macmillan.

Both of the Alexandra Park boys’ teams reached the London Youth Games finals at Crystal Palace, winning valuable points for Haringey – and Pedersen is also passionate about getting more teenage girls playing badminton and retaining them.

“I am very proud and honoured to win Volunteer of the Year,” she said. “Thank you to Yonex, who have sponsored the award and given a £500 equipment prize, which is absolutely fantastic. I will be using the money to buy new rackets for the club.

“I am also very proud of how Alexandra Park Junior Badminton Club has developed from a mere handful of players in 2007 to a truly great junior community badminton club with many volunteers and coaches.”