Winslow & Villages Community Board celebrate local community champions
The Winslow & Villages Community Board engagement event and Proud of Bucks Awards 2022 ceremony was held at the Winslow Bowls Club, it was a sunny afternoon so referments & cake were served outside. We also had a networking event with stallholders including BBOWT, Greener Padbury, Trading Standards, Fire Service, UK Astronomy, Bucks Family Service and Bucks Community Safety.
Helen Mee from the award sponsors, The Clare Foundation, said a few works to introduce the POB awards they were then presented by Cllr Beville Stanier & Cllr Phil Gomm.
Community Group Contribution
Winner: Winslow Wheelers
All committee are volunteers making a positive impact on members mental health and wellbeing. They set up in-between lockdowns when they could safely take groups out and have grown significantly in last two years. They have supported local Lions to set up the North Bucks charity bike ride raising monies for Mind and other local charities and local food banks. They have encouraged road safety in cycling and welcomed all no matter what level to begin cycling again. They group now have over 70 members of all age groups and levels, beginning with the enthusiasm of two!
Highly Commended: Rennies Cider
The death of a close friend inspired the group to do something with his father in his memory — they decided to start making cider and then began to sell it. As a group they unanimously decided to give all profits to charity. They have raised over £20k for two charities — Aylesbury Youth Concern and the woad farm project through making and selling cider — all in Winslow.
Not only have they raised huge sums of money for a worthwhile cause; they also create connections within the community as many of the apples come from Winslow residents who have come to the market and offered fruit from trees in their gardens. As well as this many members of the group have suffered with mental health issues, housing battles, bereavements — but the group has helped each other overcome these obstacles
Local Community Champion
Winner: Sue Sparling
Sue volunteers in a way that makes a positive difference in people’s lives by organising / participating in three weekday group meetings in the village of Newton Longville.
On a Tuesday, it’s a coffee morning where all are welcome, helping local people to meet up and chat over biscuits and a drink with some quizzes for those who want to have a go.
On Wednesday, she runs a warm space where all are welcome, again with tea or coffee, biscuits and cakes, but additionally soup and a roll is served at lunch time, other activities are available like knitting and crocheting, along with a help room and confidential advice if needed.
Finally, in term time on Thursdays there’s Songs and Rhymes for accompanied babies and children up to 4. Snacks are provided the adults as well. There are craft sessions, and the children can play with the toys as well as having a group singing session.
In addition, she is always picking up some of the villagers who cannot easily get to the Free church building. Her positive attitude, friendliness and smiling face gives everyone a warm welcome, seeming to put everyone else’s needs before her own.
Sue helps people to come together to meet new or old friends, especially after the loneliness caused by the covid lock down. Boosting their wellbeing and their mental health.
Highly Commended: Eve Atkins and Pauline Curtis
Eve Atkins and her mother, Pauline Curtis were riding horses on the highway near Great Brickhill on 15 July 2022. Pauline Curtis was operating a helmet camera which riders use for their own protection against irresponsible drivers.
Eve Atkins was the lead rider in the group and was first to see a van stopped in an odd place. She saw that the van driver was dumping waste illegally at the roadside.
All three riders challenged the man and Eve Atkins and Pauline Curtis made witness statements and supported Buckinghamshire Council’s investigation and prosecution of the dumping offence.
They did this without concern for their own safety despite being in the road on horseback which presents its own dangers (as evidenced by the need for helmet camera use)
The full story appeared in Horse & Hound and was covered in the Twitter feed from the Council’s investigation team
