West Berkshire community champions honoured with awards
Heroic local residents have been recognised for their contribution to the community in an awards ceremony.
The Community Champion Awards are an opportunity to say thank you to people who have done something special for their local community and honours those individuals and community groups who have gone above and beyond to support residents throughout West Berkshire this year.
The Junior Citizen of the Year award was jointly given to Cara Herman, Lillie Howe and Megan Dempsie.
Cara, 15, was honoured for helping set up the 'All Yours Period Box', helping to make over 3,000 boxes of period products and helping raise over £27,000 for the community, ensuring that those who do not have access to these or cannot afford the products will be able to use them.
Lillie was honoured for going above and beyond with her help and volunteering during the pandemic, and showing a helping and caring attitude to the disadvantaged, disabled and vulnerable in the community.
The judging panel were impressed by Lillie, who is 12, and has been volunteering since the age of nine. The nomination was from a local resident which means that her work really has been noticed by those around her.
Megan was honoured for her volunteering effort with 5th Kennet Vale Rainbows, supporting weekly activities for five and six year olds, and she initiated and helps with running Thatcham Litter Pickers. She has also raised significant sums of money to support causes that affect her friends and family who live locally.
Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Dr Susan Millington – the founder and driving force behind the Lockdown Woods project.
During the Covid lockdowns she encouraged local people to keep and nurture saplings in their garden, which would be planted to commemorate individuals who lost their lives from Covid, and as a lasting testament to the dedication of NHS staff and the wider community.
Community Group of the Year was given to Young Carers’ Project, Newbury Road Club and Mortimer Lunch Club.
The Young Carers’ Project supports children and young people under the age of 18 that provide regular ongoing care and emotional support to another who is physically or mentally ill, disabled or who misuses substances.
The judging panel found the Young Carers Project to be a worthy winner as it provides an excellent service supporting young carers.
For Newbury Road Club, historically it only saw a handful of ladies cycling regularly with the Club. With the support of its newly elected committee, a small cohort of NRC lady members decided to change all that and developed the NRC Women's Ride Group.
The judging panel found that the group was a worthy winner - bringing people together, improving health and wellbeing and having a positive impact on those taking part.
The Mortimer Lunch Club provides somewhere for older residents to meet and socially interact to alleviate social isolation and loneliness. It has provided introductions for the two main village retirement residential complexes (Badgers Croft and Glenapp Grange) at opposite ends of our village whose residents previously had limited access to each other, to meet.
The club has also provided old friends, who might have limited mobility or transport issues, the ability to connect once again. It gives residents something to look forward to for people whose calendars were despairingly empty of social engagements.
Lastly, Trevor Goodall was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Following the death of his prematurely born twin boys (Joshua and Samuel) in 1995, Trevor has worked tirelessly for his charity "New Life" to raise money for much needed specialist equipment in the three major hospitals (Reading, Swindon & Oxford) where the majority of West Berkshire mums-to-be will give birth and in turn increasing the chances of survival for many premature and seriously ill babies born to parents who live in West Berkshire.
Trevor is a truly local character who spent his early childhood being raised in Kintbury, he attended St Bartholomew's School and has spent his working life as a local dental technician.
The judging panel found Trevor to be a very worthy winner who has raised more than £1,000,000 and used a personal tragedy to make a difference for the benefit of a great many people. He has shown commitment and dedication over 25 years and is a true Community Champion.
West Berkshire Council chairman Clive Hooker said: "Congratulations to each of the winners and a heartfelt thank you for all you have done for others in your community.
“There is a tremendous amount of goodwill in our communities and we appreciate those who go out of their way to help others.”
