Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils Community Achievement Awards 2016 Wherstead Park, Ipswich Thursday 21 April 2016 In Partnership with and generously sponsored by Partnership with Offshoot films Welcome As part of this year’s ceremony, the Councils have been working with Sudbury-based company This is the first year that Babergh and Mid Suffolk have decided to run a joint Community Offshoot Films to produce a short film on all our winners, which will be shown throughout the Achievement Awards ceremony. With such a high calibre and quantity of nominations this year, awards ceremony. The film highlights the work of our winners and also features the nominators it is very gratifying to see our first joint ceremony such a success. e,W along with the other explaining why they felt an award should be given. members of the judging panel, had a difficult decision in selecting the 2016 winners. A big thank you to Paul Press and his team, including the Sudbury and Great Cornard Young We would like to take this opportunity to thank the East of England Co-op for their very generous Filmmakers, for their hard work and professionalism throughout the project. sponsorship this year. As a likeminded organisation, that is concerned enough to support local A copy of the film shown at the ceremony will be posted to winners after the awards evening. A producers and also help to fund community projects, we see them as the perfect partner. We’d copy will also be available on the Council’s websites. also like to thank Lesley and the events team at Wherstead Park for hosting us. Finally, congratulations to each and every one of our winners whose drive, determination and Partnership with Radio Suffolk commitment make their communities a better place to live. Our Guest of Honour, BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Mark Murphy will be our compere for the evening. Mark has been compere for Babergh and Mid Suffolk awards for many years and his continued support and the profile he gives these awards is very much appreciated. Councillor Derek Osborne Councillor Nick Ridley You can join Mark for his Big Conversation on his mid-morning show on BBC Radio Suffolk. Chairman of Chairman of Mid Suffolk District Council Babergh District Council Partnership with Suffolk County Music Service TO BE CONFIRMED Judging Panel Welcome from headline sponsor, East of England Co-Op This year’s judging panel involved Councillors and young people from Babergh and Mid Suffolk. As the largest independent community retailer in the region, with over 200 stores at the heart of towns and villages across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, we have the The task of the judging panel is not an easy one and with 59 nominations received this year, the privilege of knowing and working with many fantastic groups and individuals whose task certainly wasn’t for the faint hearted. selfless efforts to make their community a better place so often goes unrewarded. Thank you to all who took part in particular to the students from Thomas Gainsborough School, That is why we are thrilled to once again be supporting the Community Achievement Awards this Asha Mayes, a 2015 award winner, Josef Thompson and also to Danny Hughes. year and have the opportunity to say thank you – on behalf of our colleagues and customers, along with those who have nominated and voted for their community heroes. Christian Bone Head of Member and Community Services East of England Co-op http://www.eastofengland.coop/about-us Evening Programme 6.00pm Arrival and welcome drink 6.30pm Welcome by Councillor Derek Osborne and Councillor Nick Ridley and Christian Bone from the East of England Co-Op. 6.45pm Presentation of 15 Community Achievement Awards, compered by BBC Radio Suffolk presenter, Mark Murphy Awards presented by: Councillor Derek Osborne, Chairman of Mid Suffolk District Council, Councillor Nick Ridley, Chairman of Babergh District Council and Christian Bone, Head of Member and Communities Services at the East of England Co-operative Society. 7.30pm Dinner is served. Each table will receive a sharing platter of locally produced food beautifully created by Patricia Sharman & Company. Menus are available on the table. 8.15pm Presentation of 15 Community Achievement Awards, compered by BBC Radio Suffolk presenter, Mark Murphy Awards presented by Councillor Derek Osborne, Chairman of Mid Suffolk District Council, Councillor Nick Ridley, Chairman of Babergh District Council and Christian Bone, Head of Member and Communities Services at the East of England Co-operative Society. 9.30pm Group photo – all winners will be invited onto the stage for a final group photograph 9.45pm Closing remarks from Charlie Adan, Chief Executive of Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils 10:00pm Carriages await 2016 Community Achievement Benjamin Munson - Sudbury Ben is a young unsung hero who readily and generously gives hours of his time to the Befriending Award Winners Scheme in Sudbury. The Befriending Scheme provides friendship and learning opportunities for adults from vulnerable groups, including those with learning disabilities, mental health needs and Rising Star older people. This category recognises individuals or groups who are under the age of 18 years Ben is a complete natural with members of the Befriending Scheme. He supports each individual who have made an outstanding contribution to their local school or community. with a mixture of respect and dignity, whilst empowering them to be independent. Ben regularly volunteers for the service and plays an instrumental part in major events. He has Phoebe Mercer – Thurston demonstrated remarkable commitment and is fast developing his organisational and leadership skills alongside his ability to demonstrate initiative. Phoebe’s selfless acts in fundraising and sports leadership are just some of the reasons she has been recognised as a Rising Star. Unfortunately Ben can’t be an official volunteer until he turns 16 however despite his age, he is currently an integral part to the Befriending Scheme and the work that Ben supports is helping him Phoebe is always looking at how she can fundraise for charities close to her heart. Through to develop into a remarkable young man. leading and organising, as well as taking part in 10km run itself, Phoebe’s enthusiasm and drive helped to raise over £1,200 for the Help4Heroes charity. Phoebe’s fundraising activities don’t just Ben is clearly a very special young man who is making a truly outstanding contribution to his stop there. She also supported St Nicholas Hospice Care in Bury St Edmunds to raise funds for community. He demonstrates considerable care and dedication to all involved in the Befriending her friend’s sister, Annie, who has severe drug resistant epilepsy which can mean some months Scheme, he is an inspiration and a wonderful role model to all. she has up to 300 seizures. Phoebe’s hard work meant that over £1,100 was raised through various fundraising activities. Nominated by Tracey Welsh During the school term, Phoebe can be found leading a cross country club which allows students Molly Hutchings and Elsie Nunn - Felsham to train and prepare for competitions. Phoebe runs the club every Tuesday at Thurston Community College, which provides students between the age of 12 and 15 with two hours of quality coaching. Rising Stars Molly and Elsie’s dedication and commitment in keeping their village clean and clear This supports students who are unable to train at home or in a fee paying running club. The of rubbish means that residents of Felsham benefit from a cleaner and safer environment. students find the sessions beneficial as they learn new skills and techniques, as well as improving their fitness levels contributing to their overall wellbeing. Molly and Elsie give up their time to litter pick twice a month. They have been out and about since September 2015 and have pledged to undertake two litter picks, every month, for a whole year. Out of school, Phoebe is a sergeant within the Army Cadet Force. She teaches the cadets a variety of subjects on a weekly basis which provides them with skills and drills which they can use Come rain or shine, Molly and Elsie will be found out in their community and their hard work hasn’t throughout their cadet careers. gone unnoticed in helping to keep the village clean and tidy for big events such as the Christmas Market. Work doesn’t stop after events either, with Molly and Elsie going out after big events such As a student of Thurston Community College, Phoebe is an outstanding ambassador. She is able as the firework night to clear rubbish. to mobilise her peers to take action to support and raise funds for the community in which she lives and studies. Whilst doing so, she remains on top of her A Level studies and meets all her Felsham is seeing a reduction in litter as their efforts bear fruit, the main stretch of road through deadlines. the centre of our conservation area, where people discard their litter from vehicles and outside the village shop is seeing a marked improvement down entirely to their community contribution. Phoebe’s outstanding contributions to the community, in which she lives and studies, are truly remarkable and reach a phenomenally wide audience and of all ages. The community of Felsham are really lucky to have two young and keen volunteers to help keep their beautiful village tidy. Their community spirit and willingness to give their time and effort to Nominated by Jean Wheeler their community is a real credit to Molly and Elsie. Nominated by Felsham Parish Council Community Hero George is also founder member and trustee of the highly regarded Rural Coffee Caravan Information Project.