Community Heroes Honoured by Mayor of Sefton at the Citizens 4 Good Awards
A scheme which honours Sefton residents who make a difference to life in their local communities has honoured its latest recipients.
Citizens 4 Good aims to highlight the good deeds, kindness and support that local people provide to other members of their local community.
It is a joint initiative between Sefton CVS and the Mayor of Sefton’s Office and was established in 2017.
This month’s ceremony – the second since the pandemic – was held at Southport Town Hall and attended by 13 community heroes, their family members and the people who nominated them for the award.
They each received a certificate and thanks from the Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Clare Carragher.
Councillor Carragher said she was delighted to attend the event and to hear about the many examples of the excellent work that people are doing in their local communities.
Citizens 4 Good organiser, Lauren Jones, said: “We are so pleased that this awards scheme continues to highlight the good so many people do in the Sefton community.
“Much of what our nominees do would otherwise go ‘under the radar’, so this event is a great way to recognise their hard work and commitment.”
The nominees who received certificates were:
Fiona Wood – an organiser for Formby Luncheon Club. Fiona was nominated by Deborah whose mother-in-law attends every week. Deborah says that the club has been a lifesaver for her mother-in-law and has given her a new lease of life and made life worth living. She would be completely isolated without this essential contact with others.
Karen Nicholson – Karen was also nominated by Deborah. She says: “Karen takes my mother-in-law to a coffee club weekly and she’s become like family. What an incredible lady she is. She has a young family and looks after her own mum too.”
Mike Smithson – Mikehas volunteered for Sefton OPERA for several years providing a range of activities including pampering, chair exercise and healing. Mike has also been instrumental in helping to set up groups in Southport to help combat loneliness and isolation.
Viv Johnson – Viv helps at the monthly Bootle Belles older persons dance group at Sefton OPERA and is now a member of the Sefton Operettes who provide entertainment and dance routines for the monthly dances, as well as at nursing homes and day care centres across Sefton.
Denis Johnson – Denis has volunteered for Sefton OPERA for several years, firstly with the Men Behaving Brilliantly group and secondly as the lead for tai chi, providing a range of popular sessions.
Shirley Martin- Roxburgh – Shirley runs a thriving local Rainbow, Brownies, Guides and Rangers unit in Crosby. She is also an amazing foster carer, and has had many children in her care over the years who have come to see Shirley as the amazing woman everyone else sees her as.
Friends of Maghull and District – Diane Harvey and Frank Sharp represented the group. This small group of volunteers have been instrumental in improving several unkempt areas around Maghull since their inception in 2019.
Claire Raven and Daniel Brookfield – Claire and Daniel are from UK Hot Cars. They run a free monthly family-friendly event in Southport that brings together car lovers from across the North West. For ten years they have met and mentored young people and have encouraged many of them to pursue a career in the motor industry.
Alan Lewis and Sue Byrne – earlier this year Alan and Sue founded the Ukraine Welcome Centre at Blundellsands Methodist Church. This provides practical frontline support to Ukrainian families, including offering a safe space to meet others, a communal kitchen and leisure areas, IT facilities, advice, English language classes and lots of toys for the children.
Alison Read – Alison is the Advice and Support Manager for local charity Compassion Acts. Earlier this year, Alison sadly lost her husband to cancer. During his illness, Alison remained committed to her work and she actively sought to provide additional support to people in similar situations.
For more information about future Citizens 4 Good sponsorship opportunities, or if you would like to nominate someone for the scheme, ring 07860 846605 or email info@sefton4good.org.uk.