The first Wyre Community Awards took place on 4 December, recognising the incredibly important work our voluntary, charitable and community organisations make in supporting our local communities.
161 nominations were received for 37 different not-for-profit voluntary, charitable, faith or social enterprise organisations across the borough. Three nominees were selected across each of the three award categories. The independent judging panel comprised two representatives from the Lancashire Association of Councils for Voluntary Service (LACVS), Greg Mitten and Rachel Coupe, and students from Hodgson Academy in Poulton-le-Fylde, Matthew Foley and Millie Cash.
Councillor Lynne Bowen, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Communities attended the event and said,
“It is amazing to hear all the heartwarming stories demonstrating the real impact you have made in our communities. The panel were incredibly impressed with the number and quality of applications from across the borough. All of you here make such a difference to people’s lives and help others find the light at the end of the tunnel. A huge thanks go to all applicants and especially all our deserving winners.”
The winners who received a certificate, commemorative trophy and complimentary tickets for Lytham Festival, donated by Cuffe and Taylor, were:
Behind Closed Doors – Winner of the Making a Difference to Adults award
Mandy set up Behind Closed Doors, a group supporting women who are experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse, after her own traumatic experiences with domestic abuse. Her group offers a safe place where women can discuss their concerns, speak to others who understand their experiences, and find help and support to escape their domestic abuse situations.
Accepting the award, Mandy said,
“Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us. It’s been a tremendous three years since Behind Closed Doors was founded. When you are going through domestic abuse, Behind Closed Doors offers that connection and understanding, knowing that someone has been there, been through that themselves – to have that reassurance makes all the difference. We don’t want recognition for what we do… it’s a passion.”
Finalists: Jars of Joy, Luke’s Legacy
The Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund– Winner of the Making a Difference to Young People award
Paula and Barry set up The Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund when their fit and healthy son Matthew suddenly passed away aged 22. An inquest later concluded that his death should be recorded as Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, often known as SADS, an umbrella term for the many different causes of cardiac arrest that happens to around 12 apparently healthy young people each week in the UK alone. They channelled their grief into raising awareness and funding, to bring cardiac screening into the local area and prevent other families from going through the same experience. Their fundraising efforts in his memory have allowed hundreds of young people to be screened, with some referred for treatment and even for surgery.
Accepting their award, Paula said,
“I really want to say thank you to my wonderful team, we are a very small team. We do an awful lot of fundraising, and without that team, without that community, we wouldn’t have got where we are.”
Finalists: Highbury Morris Dancers, Fleetwood Gym Amateur Boxing Group
The Chaddeans – Winner of the Making a Difference to Communities award
The Chaddeans are a music and drama group which has been based in Poulton-le-Fylde for 50 years. A key part of the local community, the group have fundraised for numerous national charities through their years. In 2015, they turned their efforts to their home ground and worked tirelessly to help fundraise the £500,000 needed to save Poulton Community Village Hall, which is now a thriving community space and recently was awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service.
Wendy Barnes, from The Chaddeans, said
“All of us, here in this room, probably have had times of darkness in our lives, and actually, what you discover is that being a volunteer gives you more than you give it - and if your life is in a bad place, volunteering is without a doubt the way to go.”
Finalists: Fleetwood Town Community Trust, Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs
Wyre resident Robert Danson was also honoured with a certificate of special recognition for his outstanding contribution to local conservation. For over 40 years Robert has been building bird boxes and placing them all around his local area. Soon after he also began tagging and tracking birdlife in the area, helping local populations to thrive.