Citizens Award Scheme from Wellingborough Town Council

Well deserved winners of the 2023 Citizens Awards include:

Father Ben Lewis, outstanding community achievement.

“Since arriving at St marks 6 years ago, Fr Ben has made a fundamental difference to the Queensway estate.  He works tirelessly with many organisations across the town to ensure the people of the estate are looked after, cared for, supported, encouraged and most of all heard.  His caring and supportive nature has allowed so many people access to services that they may otherwise have missed. He never turns anybody away from his door.

He invites organisations to come and use the church facilities to engage with the community both young and old. These include Local Counsellors, The Lions, Made with Many, community support, Greatwell homes, NAYC and many many more.

Fr Ben has also set up the winter warmers on a Wednesday to ensure that vulnerable people are kept warm and have a hot meal each week AND on his day off, once a fortnight, he is a comforting presence at our youth club supporting over 60 children.  He really does go above and beyond.”

 

Freddie & Georgine Harris, outstanding environment achievement.

“Organised the ‘Wellingborough womblers’ litter picking group and have consistently litter picked all areas of the town.

They have encouraged local groups and children to take some pride in where they live.

They have contacted schools and arranged ‘working parties’ of children to go out litter picking and to encourage them not to litter their streets and hopefully pass on to their parents the need to keep the town tidy.

They have an organized Facebook page that supports volunteers litter picking in the town.  Freddie constantly encouraging and congratulating groups and individuals in their task.”

 

Adelle Toseland, outstanding volunteer

“Adelle helped to set up our youth club 7 years ago and has gone above and beyond with her passion to help and support the young people across Wellingborough and beyond.

From a group of 25 young people when we started to now, a register with over 90 young people, Adelle has been fundamental in its success. She guides and supports young people and their families and is passionate about making sure ALL children have access to the provisions they deserve. As the group has evolved her caring and supporting nature has led to a number of SEN, children in care and home school children attending the club. Guardians see it as a safe space for their children to be free, accepted, nurtured and cared for.

Adelle works so hard with local agencies and fights for what is right with each and every child that needs it.

Adelle works full time but is daily chasing leads, responding to emails and discussing Youth club matters whenever she has a spare minute. Her dedication is second to none. The club would not be what it is today without her.”

 

Joseph Lok, outstanding young person award

“Joseph has overcome difficulties at school and achieved grades good enough to study sport studies at Northampton University

Joseph attended training run by Northamptonshire sport in leading sport and activity based games.

Joseph helped facilitate 2 weeks of  sporting holiday provision for up to 30 children on the Queensway estate in receipt of free school meals

Joseph volunteers regularly at St Marks youth club for 3.5 hours where he was once a service user. He is now a young leader.

Joseph continues to serve as part of the altar party of the church

Joseph is a kind caring and compassionate young man who has over come much adversity and now is an inspiring young man

Joseph continues to study at degree level at Northampton Uni where he lives in halls and returns home at weekends to work at Westend wallpaper Wellingborough and to visit his family.”

 

Off the Streets NN was awarded for outstanding  Voluntary and community sector organisation.

“Off the streets was formed in the wake of the Dylan Holliday Murder on the Queesnway estate, by Two individuals

(Ravaun Jones & Jane Capps) with no prior knowledge of running a Charity or voluntary organisation.

Their sheer passion and dedication in putting a stop to Knife Crime in and around Wellingborough has been phenomenal. In addition to their commitment to their own communities they have taken their message and support across the county.

What started as a stand against Knife crime, quickly turned into much more, with the launch of the Bleed Kits, again initially throughout Wellingborough but then across the County, with the relevant training for all those interested, at no cost to those attending. This training gave an overview of the bleed kits and more importantly how to attend to someone with Knife wounds.

The group has quickly grown in strength with a huge following, Ravuan & Jane give up so much of their spare time and manage all the good work they do, on top of holding down full-time jobs and supporting their own families.

They have been fundamental in arranging various events across the County, to both raise awareness and raise fund to purchase the bleed kits/cabinets, and then again give up their own time to install the cabinets.7 amnesty bins permanently fixed across the county with over 250 knives handed in

Knife angel events delivered for N’ton and Wellingborough

Multiple school workshops delivered across the county educating over 800 young people.

65 bleed kits fundraiser for and placed across the county – life saving kits.

Multiple community events delivered.

Anti violence commitment plaque from crime Commissioner office awarded, placed fir community in swansgate centre

Trained over 170 community members in critical blood loss control – life saving knowledge”

All winners were announced and presented their certificates at the Annual Town Meeting held in The Castle Theatre on Wednesday 10th May 2023.