Aylesbury Community Board Celebrate their local community champions
Buckinghamshire Council’s Aylesbury Community Board hosted its Proud of Bucks awards on Thursday 8th June 2023 at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. The event was attended by over 100 guests and celebrated those who are doing great things to support our local community.
The event was sponsored by The Clare Foundation, with prizes provided by La Salute, Waitrose, Vietnamese Street Food and The Works.
Cllr Susan Morgan, Vice Chairman of the Aylesbury Community Board said: ‘This was a great opportunity to be able to celebrate those within the community that make a huge impact to local residents and direct to the Aylesbury community. I’d like to thank everyone who was nominated and everyone who took the time to nominate someone’
Aylesbury Community Board works with local partners, including residents and local businesses to create sustainable change for our communities. If you are passionate about bringing your community together then we want to hear from you! For more information or to get in touch, contact us at aylesburycb@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or follow us on Facebook-@Aylesbury Community Board to keep up-to-date with all of our latest news.
Local Community Champion
Winner: Leyton Scarlett
Leyton was nominated for his support at Aylesbury Youth Concern. Leyton is loved and maybe more importantly very much respected by all at Youth Concern. He is passionate about contributing to all aspects of our brilliant charity. Leyton is not shy about admitting that he has a past. Because of the life experience he has had, he can speak to young people who may be having difficult times in a way that they appreciate because he relates to them in a respectful way. Perhaps the most admirable thing about him is that he has used his previous experiences as inspiration to help other people. Not only does he just want to support the young people of Youth Concern, he truly wants them to thrive and be proud of themselves.
Leyton is passionate about each and every young person that Youth Concern help and would do anything for any of them, the staff, or other volunteers. I would say that is a pretty great thing to be known for so we hope he is really proud of himself.
Highly Commended:
Martina Stewart: For supporting and advocating for others in her local area
Michael Hulcoop: For his work running The Money Management Centre
Marie Biswell: For her voluntary work as a BSL Interpreter
Young Community Champion
Winner: Daniel Meakin
The person who nominated our winner told us that:
‘Dan is a very active young member of the local community, Dan has organised litter picks, delivered Christmas gifts, raised funds for charity and organised an Easter egg hunt for his local community in Elm Farm, Aylesbury.
Because of Dan’s litter pick initiatives, Elm Farm is significantly tidier and he has restored a little bit of faith in humanity for those in the area.
Dan is a pupil at the special educational needs school Pebble Brook and has overcome a number of adversities not least those of being a teenager in a world where, particularly at that age it’s difficult to be different.
As Daniel has embraced adversity and taken himself out of his comfort zone by engaging and supporting the local community’
Highly Commended:
Olivia Underwood: For her voluntary work with Aylesbury Wombles
Group Community Champions
Winner: Foodcycle
Since July 2022 the Aylesbury FoodCycle volunteers have been hosting weekly community meals at the Vineyard, Aylesbury every Tuesday evening.
The FoodCycle meals are open to everyone, no referral needed and no questions asked. The charity set them up as a way to address food poverty, reduce social isolation and to reduce food waste; but they wouldn’t be possible without the team of local Bucks based volunteers.
Guests at the Aylesbury meal are made to feel welcome and there is such a friendly buzz. Lots of the guests attend regularly. The cooking volunteers arrive at 4pm on a Tuesday and decide what 3 course meal to cook for guests, using donated surplus food.
At 5pm the hosting volunteers arrive to lay the tables and set up for guests; and then the doors open at 6pm.
Guests enjoy a three-course vegetarian hot meal, which is always healthy and delicious. Volunteers also box up portions for guests to take away with them and enjoy at home.
Please provide the highly commended recipients’ names and a short summary of their nomination.
Highly Commended:
The Petri Dish: For supporting Arts and Community in Aylesbury by providing a space for local musicians and artists to showcase their talents, as well as other services such as a food bank and repair café.
Yarn Bombers: A group of crafters who together create knitted and crocheted flowers to display in the Market Square.
Nightingale Country Crafts: For making make baby clothes, toys, blankets, tea cosies and decorations throughout the year which are sold through Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity shops and local events.
