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The CNWA committee members were delighted to honour community volunteers across Cheshire at our annual AGM and awards event held on November 12th 2020. 

Due to the pandemic our meeting was held virtually using Zoom but was nevertheless well attended and had support from Chief Constable Darren Martland of Cheshire Police and Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane. 

This is the 2nd successive year in which the Cheshire Neighbourhood Watch Awards have been held, and we received a record number of nominations; 57 in total across 6 categories. 

This year in addition to the usual categories, we introduced Covid-19 Support as a category and received a huge response, with many inspiring and excellent stories of caring communities coming together to support those in need during the pandemic and national lockdown. The shortlisted volunteers and winners for each category are listed below. 

Cheshire Covid-19 Community Volunteer of the Year Shortlist: 

• Pam Dyson – Birchwood, Warrington 

• Lee Siddall – Northwich • Ruth Hampshire – Willaston, Neston 

• Janet Eaton – Congleton 

Winner: 

Ruth Hampshire Ruth lives in Willaston near Neston and was nominated by two people for volunteering to shop for her elderly immediate neighbours during the pandemic. 

She set up a system for itemising the needs of 6 households and for managing payments efficiently, and every week she went to several shops to buy everything on their lists, including collecting prescriptions and hearing aid batteries, finally delivering to each door. She was commended not just for her commitment to her neighbours, but also for her caring and patient approach, which clearly made a huge difference to her vulnerable neighbours. 

Cheshire Covid-19 Community Support Group of the Year Shortlist: 

• Helping Hands, Orford, Polar & Hulme, Warrington 

• St Margaret’s Community Centre – Latchford, Warrington 

• The Hale Village Brigade – Halton 

Winner: 

Helping Hands, Orford, Polar & Hulme, Warrington Carol Kilgannon set up Helping Hands at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic providing food parcels, welfare packages and general support to people in need who were struggling to put food on the table for their families due to loss of income, jobs, etc. 

The group of volunteers also provided support to the elderly and people in the community who were shielding. 

The group were inundated with requests for help and support and made connections with a local supermarkets and businesses who have continued to support the group to date. Helping Hands continue to support the most vulnerable in our community. 

During the height of the pandemic, the group also organised social activities through Facebook to keep people connected, engaged and helped lift their mood by playing online bingo, games, fun activities and a weekly raffle 

Cheshire Individual for Services to the Public Shortlist: 

• Joan Hartley – Holmes Chapel 

• Mike Bishop – Handforth 

• Terry Flaherty – Farifield & Howley, Warrington 

• Jean Toyn – Tiverton 

Winner: 

Terry Flaherty Terry, along with his wife Jean, has worked for many years to establish community spirit throughout the areas of Fairfield and Howley in Warrington. He helped to transform a poor open space into a Green Flag park which attracts hundreds of locals throughout the summer and is in use for local groups year-round. Families from across Warrington have been welcomed and significant community spirit engendered. Terry organises events, ensuring that everyone has a good and safe time and for the last few years, the summer activities schedule has included as many children (and their parents) as want to attend craft, play and games sessions. 

Alongside all this, when there is a concert or entertainment to raise funds for charities, Terry is the first to agree to sing and play his guitar, involving all in mass singalongs. 

Cheshire Neighbourly Neighbour of the Year Shortlist: 

• Kathleen Edwards – Willaston, Nantwich 

• Sylvia Williamson – Malpas 

• Reg Barritt – Chester 

Winner: 

Sylvia Williamson Sylvia was nominated for being a tower of strength and support for not only her elderly neighbours but for everyone who needs her in her community in Malpas. 

She cooks extra food for people on their own, she cares for pets when the owners are on holiday, she keeps an eye on houses that are left empty either because someone has died or is in hospital. She works for several elderly people helping them with housework and when they are away, she does gardening work voluntarily. When she takes her dog for a walk, she has gloves and a bag with her so she can pick up litter. She has done all this for many years and the village would be a poorer place without her in it. 

Cheshire New Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator of the Year Shortlist and Winner: 

Bob Marshall, Mobberley Bob was nominated for his work in setting up Mobberley Neighbourhood Watch since July 2019 and working very effectively with the community and police to resolve issues such as off-road bikes. 

He set up a website and social media accounts to create connections and information flow in the community. 

During the Covid19 pandemic Mobberley Neighbourhood Watch was a key partner in a large support group that formed to respond to 100 requests for help from vulnerable members of the community. This excellence and impact of this work was recognised by the Lord Lieutenant on behalf of the Queen in June 2020.  

Cheshire Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator of the Year Shortlist: 

• James Bunker – Wilmslow 

• Graham Marsden – Tattenhall 

• Paul Bailey – Culcheth, Warrington 

Winner: 

Graham Marsden Graham Marsden was nominated for being there for the community, whatever the time of day. He ensures that any email or telephone call regarding issues of crime or suspicious activity is online immediately and that it is clear and precise. Graham is always cheerful and more importantly approachable. Graham liaises with the local Rural Crime Unit and is highly respected within the Police Force. The person who nominated Graham was very grateful for his personal support during an incident when her family were threatened and suffered criminal damage in the middle of the night from drunken campers attending a festival in a field adjacent to her house. Graham together with the PCC worked tirelessly to resolve those issues Congratulations to all of the nominated individuals and winners for your excellent contributions to your communities. 

25th November 2020.