Beeches Community Board congratulate their local community champions
The awards were held at Burnham Park Hall, presented by Martin Gallagher of the Clare Foundation, supported by Vice-Chair of the Board — Nick Naylor.
Chairman of the Community Board, David Anthony, would like to thank Nick Naylor and Martin Gallagher for hosting the awards in his stead, and expressed his thanks not only to those who were highly commended, or won, but to those who were nominated, and those who do such wonderful community service anonymously and without recognition. Without our volunteers, our communities would be a very different place.
Community Group Contribution
Winner: Thames Valley Heartbeat
Our winning group noticed a gap and a need for defibrillators within Stoke Poges, and set about recruiting volunteers and fundraising to purchase Defibrillators and then train volunteers in the community on how to use them, alongside training is first aid and resuscitation. Stoke Poges now has five defibrillators spread across the parish, which is both reassuring, and I’m sure, will save lives.
Highly Commended: The Care & Share Volunteers
Now, this group has gone from strength to strength, and 3 years down the line there are 16 regular volunteers and a waiting list of others who wish to join. The group accept and date food and toiletry stock, manage the stock room, make up food bags and deliver these to clients, help out at events and give up their free time. It’s also all the little things that they do that make a difference: making sure clients get what they need, assisting them to their car with heavy bags or just being there to talk to. Having helped over 2700 people in 2022, you can see why.
Young Community Champion
Winner: Avi Bond
Now, this one came as both a delight and a shock to me, due to the age of our winner! At only 8 years old, our winner has been making loom band bracelets and necklaces, selling them to friends & family and the Burnham community to raise funds for local charities. She has raised almost £200 for Care & Share Foodbank, plus over £150 each for Alexander Devine Hospice and Help for Ukraine. All of this, and we still have to remember thar she is still in Year 3!
Local Community Champion
Winner: Ann Sibley
Our winner in this category was called kind, thoughtful and big-hearted, qualities which, I’m sure you’ll agree are more needed than ever. Again, nominated several times, it seems the community are eternally grateful for the setting up of the Friday Club — a space that provides a valuable service to the senior community, providing them with a meal, entertainment (in the form of keep fit, craft, art classes, games), or even just socialising and chatting. Additionally, our winner is also involved in the Village Food Cupboard initiative — helping members of the community who need help in this economic climate.
Highly Commended: Andrew Strathdee
For our highly commended nominee the Local Community Champion, words that were used to describe him include: dedicated, hard-working, kind and passionate. Several people nominated our champion, and it is evident that many think of him as a truly good person, who always goes the extra mile.
