Missendens Community Board celebrate their local community champions
On Thursday 20th April the Missendens Community Board hosted it’s annual Community Celebration and Proud of Bucks awards event at Prestwood Community Centre.
The afternoon opened at 3.30pm with a warm welcome from the Community Board team and light refreshments. The sunny afternoon on Prestwood Common attracted a great attendance by local organisations and partners who had the opportunity to network and showcase their activities and projects, aswell as several local residents who were invited to have their say on the board’s priorities for the year ahead.
The event was sponsored and attended by The Clare Foundation, with awards presented by Chair Cllr Peter Martin and Vice Chair Mimi Harker. Our winners and highly commended nominees were kept in suspense ahead of the presentations and were thrilled to be awarded and recognised for their efforts. This was met by much round of applause and appreciation from the around the room.
Local Community Champion
Winner: Mop (Martine) Denson
Mop has served on the Committee of the Great Missenden Village Association since 2017 with special responsibility for HS2. She has been determined to do all she can to mitigate its effects on the environment and the community, consistently passing on information and reassuring the community during stressful and difficult times.
More recently she has been the driving force behind the Village Improvements Group of the Great Missenden Village Association. Working with the Parish and others, she has designed, helped get funding and overseen the construction of three attractive seating areas in Great Missenden with benches, wildlife friendly planting and delightful Roald Dahl themed brickwork. creating the artists impression drawings herself, then reaching out to people who could help with funding, even contacting HS2 contracts EKFB and getting them to provide labour and materials free of charge. She oversaw construction, making sure that the design was implemented sympathetically.
Described as a lovely, compassionate person who cares for the environment, the community and other people, she has achieved all this in addition to working and looking after her family. She works so hard, never gives up and is truly one of our unsung local heroes.
Highly Commended: Martin Little
Martin took on the voluntary role of project manager to implement the vision of the Holmer Green Village Society and build a community Sensory Garden. A half-acre of overgrown wasteland was leased by Little Missenden Parish Council for this purpose. Under Martin’s motivational and enthusiastic leadership the area has been transformed into a tranquil space that can be accessed and enjoyed by everyone.
Martin pulled together a group of local volunteers to help him build the garden as envisioned and designed by the village society. He has worked closely with the local parish council and partnered with several local businesses to secure their approval and support. The garden is now well established and known as the Holmer Green Jubilee Sensory Garden.
Community Group Contribution
Winner: Holmer Green Youth Club Young Leaders Group
Holmer Green Youth Club provides a safe space for young people to come together and having obtained value from the club, the Young Leaders Group wanted to contribute back to the club to help their younger peers by providing peer level relationships, encouraging them to socialise and take responsibility.
The Young Leaders group have gained knowledge and training in safeguarding, first aid and youth mental health in order to support the youth club members, a long term and very impressive commitment. Their willingness and enthusiasm to give up their own precious free time for the benefit of others is widely recognised and appreciated by their peers and their parents, and ss students themselves, this group has had to manage their time effectively, alongside budget constraints.
Young people have been inspired by their efforts as they continue to be fabulous role models for youngsters in the local area.
Just a few words that were used to describe this fantastic group of young people…. Energetic, inspirational, selfless and dedicated!
Highly Commended: The Lantern Club
The Lantern Club is a daytime club for local elderly members of our area to give them a social environment including midday meal which also gives their carers some respite, which makes a big difference as a day to themselves is vital to their mental health and in some instances physical health.
