VOTING NOW CLOSED
Voting has now begun for the Community Achievement Awards
2009-10.
This year, the public will have to cast their votes before
Wednesday 10th March to decide who deserves an award.
The judging panel met in January and have shortlisted a total of
twenty people for an award in one of the six categories.
People will be able to vote in a number of ways, either via
Braintree District Council or the Braintree & Witham Times and
Halstead Gazette.
How to vote:
-
By text: send the words “VOTE (space)+ NAME of
your winner” to 07797 80 32 03
-
By email: to
csc@braintree.gov.uk with
the name of your winner
-
By phone: Customer Service Centre on 01376
552525
During the final voting stage, only one vote will be counted.
The person or group with the most votes in each category will
win.
The winners will be announced at a special awards evening on
26th March at Braintree Town Hall.
MEET THE CONTENDERS....
Contribution to the Community- Young People
11-17
- Chess Church – giving her
time to young people with disabilities(no picture
available)
Chess, nearly 18, originally started working with children with
disabilities at her school in Chelmsford. After moving to
Wethersfield, she went on to work at the Mencap Society in
Braintree and became a dedicated worker for the past year. She
thoroughly enjoys working with all the members all while juggling
her A Levels studies.
She says “It is a very fulfilling experience working with them,
money can’t buy it! It gives them a chance to interact with each
other, it develops their social skills.”
Chess has great admiration for her Mencap leader Hayley “She is a
very grounded person and inspiring, I would like to be like her
when I am older”.
-Sydney Church – a keen church
musician (no picture available)
Our youngest contestant Sydney, who is 16, is currently studying
music and plays the organ once a month at her local church
service.
She also joined a church band six months ago as a guitarist and
practices regularly so they can play at some services. They raised
money for the Shoe Box Appeal over last Christmas.
When asked what it is like to be nominated for the same award as
her sister Chess, Sydney says “We are doing two different things.
My sister is helping disabled people whereas I am helping the more
immediate community.”
- Jasmine Grousell - an
ambassador for young carers
Seventeen year-old Jasmine is a young carer for her mum who has
spinal bifida. Jasmine has been attending Crossroads Care
Braintree District Young Carers Group for nearly 5 years, assisting
with fundraising activities and helping to raise awareness at her
school of young carers’ issues.
She says “I was bullied at school because of my mum’s disability
and attending the group changed my life and gave me a goal in life.
It’s like being part of one big family!”
***************************************************
Contribution to Environment and Conservation- 18+
- Lesley Hill- living and breathing Kelvedon
Lesley established The Packhorse Bridge Society two years ago with
an aim to restore the 'roman arch' bridge across the River
Blackwater between Kelvedon and Feering.
She encourages people to sponsor bricks for the renovation
including ‘bat bricks’ which have small slots in them to encourage
bats to roost. Once the work on the bridge is completed, the
group’s focus will be on improving the surrounding wildlife
area.
Every day Lesley does something for the village, from growing
plants, weeding and tidying, to reciting poems to raise funds for
Kelvedon in Bloom, another of her passions.
“I live and breathe Kelvedon,” said Lesley. “I’m always looking for
areas to improve and it’s great to see the results of our efforts.
This is the first time I’ve been nominated for an award and I’m
absolutely thrilled.”
- Renee Hockley Byam - protecting local wildlife
and habitats
Renee works tirelessly for the protection of badgers, their sets
and habitats. She has been the Chairman of the North East Essex
Badger Group for the past 10 years and works closely with
Parliament/ (Defra), Natural England, the police and
RSPCA.
She's set-up a hotline for injured badgers and also gives talks
about badgers to local groups.
She says “I’ve always found badgers interesting. There are over 150
members in our group and have a good time together. I am thrilled
to be shortlisted and I hope it will draw attention to our group
and what we do for badgers.”
- Roger Smith – champion of the
countryside
Over some six years, Roger has contributed an estimated 1,000 hours
to conservation projects. He worked on the River Colne Countryside
Project planting trees, hedgerow and wild flower meadows, building
bat homes and artificial holts for otters, and installing
artificial nesting boxes for kingfishers.
He is also a volunteer tree warden for Gosfield Parish Council and
the warden for Gosfield Sandpits nature reserve where he has been
instrumental in collecting evidence to help ensure the site was
designated as a Local Nature Reserve.
He says “I want to maintain and enhance what we have for future
generations, I like putting something back into the countryside and
I am passionate about the environment. “
**************************************************
Contribution to a voluntary body and to the community –
18+
- Joan
Gibson - putting the bloom into Halstead ( no
picture available)
A volunteer for 15 years, Joan has a background in horticulture and
has designed all the planting areas for Halstead in Bloom for the
past 6 years. Her commitment and flair have contributed to Halstead
obtaining Silver Gilt Awards in the years 2004-2008; a Gold Award
and Best Town in Anglia Region in 2009 and becoming a finalist in
the Britain in Bloom awards.
She says “I love seeing the town looking brighter, cleaner and
better. I receive lots of compliments about the planting and
flowers, even visitors to Halstead comment on them. I hope it
will bring people into the town and make it more buoyant.”
- Kelly Price –teaching young people valuable life
skills
Kelly, 21, gave up her free time as a volunteer for Nacro,
Braintree District Community Sports project for 5 years. Her role
involved using sport as a tool to engage with young people with the
hope of increasing their confidence and self-esteem and giving them
a healthier lifestyle.
She has progressed a lot since and has become more comfortable and
confident in delivering her own sports session. She is now a
qualified Level 1 coach in football and is working for the
Colchester United Community Sports Trust, providing safe activities
to vulnerable children in many schools around the district.
She says “My work is very rewarding, it’s great to see the kids
improving, some were truants and now they play a sport regularly. I
am here just for them and I get so much out of
it”.
- Katrina Whittaker– easing the pain of mental
health
After her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, Katrina became
committed to helping people with mental illness and is now a
leading member and tireless worker for “Rethink”, a charity which
supports people with severe mental illness.
She conducts a weekly drop-in art group in Braintree for local
sufferers and a monthly carer’s meeting to support families. She
has raised over £25,000 and has deservedly been recognised this
year by Rethink as their Best National Fundraiser.
About the art groups, she says “Many of the people who come to the
art- group have changed within a few months. They really enjoy the
sessions and open up to me and the carers.”
************************************************
Contribution to a voluntary body and to the community –
group 18+
- Friends of Bocking
Blackwater – conserving green spaces in
Braintree (no picture available)
This dedicated group has made a real difference to their local
environment. You can find them coppicing, river clearing and litter
picking across this 450 hectare nature reserve in Braintree –
working in the great outdoors to improve and protect this valuable
natural space for local people to enjoy.
They also undertake fundraising activities and work to raise
awareness about the local countryside.
Chair Terry Brooks says “Since we received a grant from Essex
County Council in 2007, we have planted over 50 trees and
introduced wild flowers to the area. I am really delighted for the
group to have been shortlisted, it gives us more recognition in
what we are doing.”
- Linda Irons, Beryl Brown and Sue
Francis – keeping Feering’s cemetery
alive (no picture available)
These ladies have been waging war on the brambles, weeds and
rabbits which for many years have threatened to overwhelm the
cemetery in Feering.
Thanks to their combined effort, the cemetery is now a pleasant
place to visit and a wildlife heaven. Local schools go there to
observe the local wildlife and to take part in Remembrance Day
services. Relatives are now returning to tend graves and seating
has been restored by the three ladies to encourage a contemplative
atmosphere.
Local residents have been very appreciative of their efforts and
have contributed to a fund for repairs and improvements.
Feering Parish Council has also been pleased to support them by
lending essential equipment.
**************************************************
“Long Service” contribution to the
community
- Simon Chatten – keeping young
people safe and active
Simon has worked, on a volunteer basis, for over 20 years running
sports clubs for the benefit of young people and adults. He began
teaching karate almost 30 years ago and established the Thai boxing
club in Halstead in 1991. He gives his time freely every Tuesday,
Thursday and over many weekends to teach youngsters aged 7 – 16 and
adults the skills of Thai boxing.
He says: “The youngsters come along to the club week after week and
their skills really improve. It’s a great way for kids to
keep active, socialise with others and have fun in a safe
environment. It’s very rewarding – when I see juniors doing well in
competitions and seniors winning titles, I feel incredibly
proud”.
- Cyril Simmonds – for 50 years
of fundraising in Witham
Cyril, aged 87, has been a dedicated fundraiser for 50 years for
Witham’s local charities including Farleigh Hospice, Cancer
Research, British Red Cross and British Legion Poppy Appeal.
With his late wife June, he helped many disadvantaged children and
ran the Howbridge over 60’s club for years, transporting people to
hospital appointments. A member of the Witham Rotary Club since
1969 and twice president, Cyril is the current holder of the male
trophy for raising the most money for charity.
Cyril says “I purely do it for people who are less fortunate than
myself. I am delighted to be recognised for my work and hope it
will inspire younger people to do so as I am not around
forever!”
-Jack Tillbrook – a lifetime’s
work in Wethersfield
Jack, born and bred in Wethersfield, is by far the longest serving
member of Wethersfield Parish Council. Jack is a well known
figure in his village having been a postman and proprietor of the
post office for over 30 years. For over 50 years his
voluntary work to maintain and improve Wethersfield Village Hall
has become legendary in the local community. He helped form the
Wethersfield Indoor Bowls Club and has been its chairman for the
past 10 years; he also supports the History Society and Gardening
Club.
He admits “The work I do around the village is just a part of my
life but I wouldn’t have been able to achieve all this without my
wife’s support.”
*************************************************
“Special Chairman’s” award
- Nena Harding
– making a difference to children
Nena Harding works for Samaritans Purse, an organisation which
collects gifts for needy children and packs them in to shoeboxes
and sends them to Eastern Europe or further afield. She started by
helping at the warehouse in Chelmsford, the first one in our area,
about 14 years ago. She then developed the organisation more
locally, on Clare’s Baptist Church. However, the project
outgrew that and the local warehouse is now in Sudbury. Each
November thousands of shoeboxes are checked for dispatch. She
says “This is the climax of my whole year! “
The rest of the year Nena gives talks to schools, clubs and
organisations to inform and enthuse her audiences.
Nena’s enthusiasm has inspired people of all ages to be involved
with helping others which, in turn, has made their own lives more
meaningful. She adds “Each person can make a difference to
someone’s life and for me it’s giving a special shoebox to a
child.”
- John Palombi – sharing pride in
our historic buildings
John has been Chairman of the Witham & Countryside Society
since 1997 - the society aims to encourage high standards of
architecture and planning and stimulate public interest in all
aspects of the environment.
Last year, John played a major role in successfully opposing the
demolition of houses in Collingwood Road to make way for a large
development of apartments and help extend the town's conservation
area.
He says “It’s great when a conservation area is extended, it’s
worth all the effort.”
John sits on the River Walk Committee and represents the society at
the Maltings Lane Forum and other local bodies. He is a governor of
the New Maltings Academy and a trustee director of the Campaign to
Protect Rural Essex (CPRE).
- Mark Shaw– keeping young vulnerable people
active
Mark, 22, has been a volunteer for Nacro for the past year. Nacro
Braintree Community Sports uses sport to engage with young people
and steer them away from crime and anti-social
behaviour.
He has been a valuable member of the project, always willing to
help out when needed. He leads sports sessions on a weekly basis
for young people aged from 10 to 19.
He says “ The Nacro project helped me get my Level 1 in Coaching
and this is what I want to do as a job eventually. I love
meeting new people everyday”
- Steve Sudbury- a dedicated scout and trekking
for charity
Steve has been a Scout for over 50 years and the Scout
Association’s District Commissioner for nearly 9 years organising
various international events.
He says “When you organise such events, at first you get
apprehension from all the kids but then they gradually relax and
become bound together like one big
family!”
Despite a major heart operation a few years ago and inspired by his
mother in law who has Alzheimer’s disease, Steve went on to do
charity walks in China and Peru raising over £13,000 for the
Alzheimer’s Society.
He adds “This cause doesn’t get much attention and support if you
compare with others. It became compulsive for me to do more treks
and raise more money! “
- June Turner - working
tirelessly for Pentlow
June Turner moved to Pentlow in the late 1950’s and has since
worked tirelessly for the village. She has been the Parish Council
Clerk for nearly 40 years and says of it “It was an honour to be a
parish clerk in those days!”.
She has also been heavily involved in her local church (St Greogory
and St George’s Church) as a church warden and treasurer for 30
years.
She also regularly helps with the Over 60’s Club, which has members
from Foxearth, Borley and Pentlow. She adds “I like being with
people. For example yesterday I cooked a meal at my home for the
club and then took it to the village hall. It keeps me going. “
- Sarah White- selfless dedication to helping
others (no picture available)
Sarah works for various organisations in Terling and the wider
community. As a member of the Rotary Club, she arranges fund
raising events, raises money and gives her free time to charities
like Farleigh Hospice and the Red Cross.
She also supports the local swimming pool, Terling and Fairstead
churches, the local school and Fairstead Ladies Club through
fundraising and supporting events.
Although not in the Braintree district, Sarah’s willingness to help
other people even takes her to Chelmsford Prison where she serves
tea and coffee to visitors and assists relatives of prisoners.
***************************************************
Nominate someone you know for the Community Achievement
Awards 2009/10
I have the great pleasure in inviting nominations for the
Community Achievement Awards 2009/10. The awards are to celebrate
those who have made an outstanding contribution to the community
and to improving the quality of life for others by giving their
time, support and care.
A panel of judges will meet in December/January and the award
winners will be invited, with guests to a ceremony to receive their
award.
The first year of the Community Achievement Awards was very
successful and we were overwhelmed by the number of nominations put
forward, which demonstrates how many people in the district
generously give their time to make life better for other.
We will hold a fantastic civic reception in March 2010, where
the winners will be presented with their awards.
We look forward to receiving your nominations.
Margaret Galione - Chairman of the
Council
Joanne Beavis - Cabinet Member – Customers and
Communication
-
To read about last years winners Click
here
_______________________________________________________________________________