A look back at the 2007 winners of the Cumbria Community Awards
Last updated 07:34, Tuesday, 19 August 2008
CUMBRIA boasts a small army of selfless volunteers – and the cream of the crop were given the red carpet treatment at the inaugral Cumbria Community Awards last year.
Those who do most for other people in the county in their spare time gained official recognition at the Cumbria Community Awards dinner.
Thirteen awards were presented at the Rheged Centre, near Penrith, to recognise the hard work done by those who put others before themselves.
Volunteer of the Year Award (sponsored by Digital UK) was actually won by a double act – Betty Armstrong and Joan Humes – for their work running the Moorclose Community Centre in Workington.
They’ve worked tirelessly for 15 years to give the estate a facility where residents can come together and get involved in a range of activities and events – six days each week.
They were instrumental in stopping the former Moorclose school being knocked down and they drove the project to change its use. Their efforts landed them the award ahead of Lawrence Marshall who has been involved with the Silloth Carnival committee since 1972.
The Young Volunteer of the Year (sponsored by Edinburgh Woollen Mill) was Tom Davis-Merry from Rosthwaite in Keswick – a sixth former who has been involved in voluntary work since he was 14.
He helps the British Red Cross by running first aid sessions, the Embleton Multimedia Group where he chairs the committee, and Soundwaves where he is youth music leader. He has also done conservation work overseas and has won an award from the Millennium Volunteers.
Runner up was Anya Leonard, 14 from Salterbeck for her work with Wicked Wednesday youth group which caters for girls under 12.
Other winners
Chairman’s Award (sponsored by Cumbria County Council)
Winner: Carlisle Asian Women’s Group – a support network for Cumbria’s Asian women set up by Saj Ghafoor, pictured above from Carlisle’s HDM Spice Shop.
Runner-up: Show Racism The Red Card – a Whitehaven-based anti-racism initiative driven by campaigner Peter Foley, one of the first black professional footballers in Britain.
Education and Learning Award (University of Cumbria)
Winner: Clear Choice from Workington, a group set up by ex-drug and alcohol users to offer a better understanding of drug and alcohol misuse in the community.
Runner-up: Northern School of Asian and Oriental Cooking from Barrow, an enterprise run by John and Soodsawat Rigg to raise awareness of other cultures to rural schools.
Young Carers Award (Cumbria County Council Children’s Services)
Winner: Lorna Mulholland from Hayton Road, Carlisle, for her work caring for her mum, who suffers from MS.
Runner-up: South Lakeland Carers Association in Kendal – they raise awareness of the needs of young carers, receive referrals and assess the needs of individual young people.
Older People Award (Cumbria Energy Efficiency Advice Centre)
Winner: Jean Cross for her work with Anthorn Drop-in centre, an initiative to provide a social forum for older people in North Allerdale.
Runner-up: Egremont Tea Dance, organised by Sally Norman and daughter Elizabeth from Age Concern in Cleater Moor.
Environment Award (Resource Cumbria)
Winner: Grayrigg Coronation Hall in Kendal. The hall’s committee has successfully avoided the closure of the hall and is currently refurbishing it using sustainable materials.
Runner-up: Lowick Community Hall for securing a lease to occupy the hall and refurbishing it.
Healthy Living Award (HF Holidays)
Winner: Food & Fitness @ Hindpool Annex. This community centre-based initiative shows mums and toddlers that healthy living is the way forward through a combination of exercise and cooking healthy meals.
Runner-up: Association of Community Complementary Therapists, Carlisle, for their work in building a team of therapists and volunteers for local businesses and organisations.
Social Enterprise Award (Northwest Regional Development Agency)
Winner: Growing Well from Low Sizergh Farm in Kendal – where volunteers recovering from mental health problems help run a thriving organic market garden.
Runner-up: Eden Community Recycling Ltd from Penrith for its work in supporting the community and improving the environment.
Safer Communities Award (Cumbria Constabulary)
Winner: Cumbria Neighbourhood Watch Associations in North Cumbria and Eden for their work in protecting vulnerable members of the community from doorstep crime.
Runner-up: David Tattersall from Workington for his work in giving presentations on road safety, relaying his own story as a serious road accident victim, alongside Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
Disability Award (Cumbria County Council)
Winner: Joyce Bainbridge from Wigton. After having a stroke and being a member of the speech and language therapy group ‘Say It’, she now volunteers for them helping others to regain speech and language skills.
Runner-up: Carlisle Mencap’s Carlisle Active at Kingmoor Park. Volunteers support people with disabilities to enable them to have equal access to community activities.
Arts Award (CN Group)
Winner: Free and Easy Art Group – Brenda Fee from United Reformed Church in Workington. Brenda organises the church’s art and craft group which tirelessly works for the local community and charities.
Runner-up: Maryport Festivals Ltd – a voluntary not-for-profit group bringing entertainment to Maryport, mainly through the blues festival.
Children and Young People Award (Studsvik UK Ltd)
Winner: Carlisle Aspatria Athletics Club coach Frank Davidson for inspiring young people in athletics.
Runner-up: Diana Lamb from The Annex, Raffles in Carlisle.
Diana works for Play Raffles carrying out volunteer work with after-school groups in the local area.
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