Community Champion Awards winners and finalists

Community Champion 2019

Community Champion 2019Angela Tyler is this year’s Community Champion. She showed tremendous courage and bravery following the death of her daughter Emma in a road traffic accident. Angela founded the ELY Memorial Fund in Emma’s memory, a charity which provides a financial condolence gift to Herefordshire families who may face unexpected funeral costs following the death of their own child in a road traffic accident.

It was an emotional evening for Angela who received a standing ovation as she was named overall ‘Champion of Champions’. Her work with the ELY Memorial Find has continued to grow as Angela works tirelessly to promote road safety to young adults. She now has hopes to offer 15-17 year olds a road driving experience before they learn to drive, covering road safety, vehicle checks and driving skills.

Community Champion 2019 finalists

Ken HollandKen Holland was nominated for his 20 year commitment to community life in Aymestrey. Notable achievements include revitalising the village hall into an inspiring venue for community life, chairing the Neighbourhood Development Plan steering group and leading World War 1 remembrance and memorials. Aymestrey is a small community with little public transport and few facilities. His drive has ensured that local residents, particularly the elderly, are able to enjoy a social life which they might otherwise have access to.

Hugh VernonHugh Vernon was inspired to set up the ‘Eardisland Memorial Walks’ to commemorate fallen soldiers in the village. While researching the 13 fallen WW1 soldiers of Eardisland he came across a letter written by a local soldier to the Hereford Times in 1916. It spoke of the young man’s love for Herefordshire, containing the words ‘he would almost give his soul to wander at will along those paths again’. This letter inspired Hugh to devise the ‘Eardisland Memorial Walks’ community project, for which he obtained Heritage Lottery Funding. Each soldier now has his own Memorial Walk, which is waymarked with signs which name him, his regiment, and the date and place of his death and incorporates significant landmarks in each solder’s life.   

Youth Champion 2019

Youth Champion 2019Stephen Gow was awarded Youth Champion for his dedication to the Army Cadets and the way he always volunteers himself with style, vigour and confidence. Through his involvement with the Royal British Legion he has shown a compassion for elderly veterans, hearing and learning from their experiences. This year, Stephen made Royal British Legion history as the first youth member to carry the Bromyard branch standard and represent Bromyard Army Cadet Force at county level – what a privilege that was!

Youth Champion 2019 finalists

Mahmoud AwabMahmoud Awad came to Herefordshire two years ago as a Syrian refugee and has been nominated as an exemplar to all young men, regardless of race, creed or circumstances. While supporting his family through a period of major ill health, Mahmoud learned English, undertook work experience in a factory, studied for his GCSEs and passed his driving test. He overcomes all hurdles with the most extreme courage and fortitude and retained his sense of hope and humour throughout.

Longtown SchoolLongtown Primary School’s ‘Kindness Campaign’ saw teachers and pupils working together to create a safe space to talk about bullying and kindness. Their playground has a swing where children can sit together, share the space and ‘swing out’ any problems that they may be having - giving children the skill set to confidently stand up to bullying and resolve their problems.

Volunteer Champion 2019

Volunteer Champions 2019The Cart Shed volunteers provide tailored support to people who may be facing mental health challenges or difficult episodes in their lives. The Cart Shed’s beautiful woodland setting is a starting point to improve people’s physical and mental health, with wellbeing walks, woodland craft courses and veteran mentorship just some of the inspiring therapeutic activities on offer.

Volunteer Champion 2019 finalists

Yvonne HurrelYvonne Hurrel, known to many as ‘Brown Owl’, has brought joy, happiness and laughter to the Girl Guiding movement for over 30 years. The thriving ‘pack’ which Yvonne leads is testament to the time and energy she has devoted for over 30 years, and the community sees the 5th Hereford Brownies as an invaluable resource. Yvonne continues to address the modern, difficult issues which face young girls today, such as internet safety, social media and mental and physical wellbeing. Her commitment and dedication to Girl Guiding is not for self-gain or recognition, but to purely ensure that young people are motivated by safe, enjoyable and inclusive activities.

Roger PowellRoger Powell has volunteered as a Community First Responder in Ross-on-Wye for the last 14 years, and is a founding member of the Ross scheme of CFRs. Roger volunteers 20 hours a week on top of his full time employment, and delivers first aid support to Ross Rugby Football Club. The Community First Responders are self-funded, and Roger plays a key role in arranging fundraising events throughout the so the first responders can renew equipment, replace uniform and keep the two response vehicles on the road.

Environment Champion 2019

Environment Champion 2019Matthew Taylor is a founding member of the Wye Float charity event. Matthew is devoted to his local environment and organises a team of volunteers to clear up objects, metal and other rubbish from the River Wye which has the potential to cause harm to river users and wildlife. Matthew can even be found snorkelling the Wye to find items on the river bed!

Environment Champion 2019 finalists

Brian HubbardBrian Hubbard has strived to promote and improve the quality of life in Belmont over the last 20 years. He regularly gets involved with grass collecting, planting many hundreds of native bulbs and wild flower plants so Jubilee field can maintain an area of wildness. He has even spent many days watering newly planted trees to help them thrive, plus he prepared a large area for sowing seeds to create a wildflower meadow within Jubilee field.  Brian’s enthusiasm is never ending, despite his maturing years.

Erika AndromedaErika Andromeda is the Herefordshire co-ordinator for Worcestershire & Herefordshire Nappy Advisory Service (WHNAS). WHNAS is a volunteer-led, non-profit organisation which offers free cloth nappy trials, support and information sessions. The WHNAS nappy library holds 71 kits suitable from birth to potty training, as well as kits for premature babies, older toddlers, children over 12, and adults. The library also holds several long-term loan kits for families in financial hardship. In 2017-18, WHNAS lent 147 cloth nappy kits, equating to 105 tonnes of disposable nappies saved from landfill.

Caring Champion 2019

Tina LloydTina Lloyd is a foster carer for children with a vast range of special needs and disabilities, as well as raising her own family. Tina has fostered around 25 children full time, for short breaks and respite care which gives a child’s family much needed rest from their daily caring role.

Caring Champion 2019 finalists

Leominster Meeting CentreLeominster Meeting Centre provides a safe place to help people and their families understand and adapt to living with memory problems by offering exercise, therapeutic activities, educational sessions, one-to-one meetings with support workers and advisers. All sessions are built around the hobbies and interests of the people who attend and everyone is fully involved in shaping what happens in and around the centre. Joy Valentini has a team of three staff and five volunteers who work seamlessly and tirelessly together to provide a happy and relaxed atmosphere where everyone is treated equally.

Neil Gokani, Community championsNeil Gokani is a dedicated, hardworking healthcare professional working as a Community Children’s Physiotherapist for Wye Valley Trust. Over the past 18 months he has gone above and beyond to implement a clinic to routinely examine premature babies for conditions such as cerebral palsy, ensuring early intervention for conditions which could have a huge impact on physical development. The perseverance and dedication Neil has shown, both professionally and personally, has culminated in the launch of a new service which will make a significant difference to the lives of premature babies and their families.