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PrideofRedditch2014
2014AwardWinners
ElaineDaykinBEMRedditchSpecialOlympicsPeterSuggNealStote SavetheAlexChrisThomasBarbaraBakewell RedditchAssociationfortheBlindLornaWhite OlderPeople'sForumSueYengRoyPreenNaheemAkhtarMyraBurtonMaggieUnderwood Roo&JacquiWilliams Dave&ClareEdwards RedditchSeaCadetCorpJanetJohnson RedditchPlayCouncil HarrietErnstsonsTheNisbetFamilyRedditchFirstResponders LloydsBankYour IdeasMcDonaldsMarkMorrisRedditchSpecialOlympicsKellyWhitehouseMacmillanFellowsFamilyLucieSouthallLeukaemiaFund
AwardsPresentedonFriday12thDecember2014atSouthRedditchSportsandSocialClub
UsethearrowkeystogoforwardandbackbetweenpagesorClickonagoldsymboltogodirectlytothename
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
ElaineDaykinBEM RedditchSpecialOlympics
Ourfirstwinnerthiseveninghasdevotedherlifetohelpingpeoplewithspecialneedsachievesportingglory.Morethan20yearsagoshewasinspiredtosetupSpecialOlympicsRedditchinresponsetothelackofafterschoolactivitiesorcommunitysupportforchildrenandadultswithspecialneeds.Overtheyearsshehasoperatedasbothsecretaryandcoachrunningtrainingsessionsandraisingmorethan£250,000tosupporttheworkofthegroup.Manyofthoseshehashelpedhavegoneontocompeteatlocal,nationalandinternationalevents.Asacounsellor,mentorandpositiverolemodelshehasallowedthosewhomaybelessfortunatetheopportunitytobesociallyincluded,takepartinsportandbetreatedequally.IamdelightedtodeclareELAINEDAYKINBEMtheprideofRedditch
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
PeteSugg
Ournextwinnerhasbeendescribedasamanwhoisingrainedwithadesireto'dotherightthing'.HehasalengthylistofachievementsthatincludeworkingwithRedditchYMCAtoestablisharangeofsportingandsocialactivitiesaswellaswalkathonsandventuringoutintothenighttosupportpeopleincrisis.Hemorerecentlyworkedwithvulnerableyoungpeopleandnowispartofthecountycouncil'sadultservices,commissioningsupportservicesforprisoners.Buthiscommitmenttothoselessfortunateextendsfarbeyondhisworkinglife.TogetherwithhiswifeJanicetheycareforhismother-in-lawwhohasseriousdementiaandalsoadoptedtwoboysin1999Luke,whoisblindinoneeyeandhastunnelvisionintheother,andMarleywhohascerebralpalsyanduncontrolledepilepsy.WithhissupportwhichincludedbecomingInternationalSecretaryoftheBlindCricketOrganisation-LukehasgoneontoplayfortheEnglandBlindCricketteamandhasrecentlygraduatedwithaHNDinbusiness,whileMarleyhasfinishedfull-timeeducationandournomineeandJanicearenowdevelopingaweeklytimetableofactivitiestoensureMarleyhasafullandactivelife.Theseexamplesgivejustaflavourofthisman'scontributiontotheborough,andIamdelightedtodeclarePETERSUGGthePrideofRedditch.
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
NealStote SavetheAlex
OurnextwinnerisapreviousPrideofRedditchrecipientandhasbeenrecognisedagainforhisdetermination,dedicationandrefusaltoacceptheisbeaten.ForthelastthreeyearsthismanhasdevotedalargepartofhislifetoleadingthecampaigntosavetheAlexandraHospital.LastyearwewereabletotellyouasaresultofhisboundlessenergyandenthusiasmtheoptionstoseverelydowngradetheAlexhadbeentakenoffthetable.Wearenowabletotellyouthatsubjecttoclinicalsignoff-asaresultofthepublicpressurehehelpedbuildandlobbyingbehindthescenes,95percentofourA&Elookslikebeingretained,10,000sickchildrenwillstillbetreatedinRedditcheveryyearandpotentiallyasmuchashalfofthewomenwhocurrentlygivebirthattheAlex,willstillhavetheoptiontodosoinfuture.Itisworthnotinghehasdoneallthisdespitepubliclyandprivatelybeingcriticisedforputtinglivesatriskbydelayingthereconfiguration.It'sbeenaprivilegetocampaignalongsidehimandIamdelightedtoannounceNEALSTOTEonceagainasthePrideofRedditch
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
ChrisThomas
NextupisayoungmanwhoinjusttwoyearshasbecomeanintegralpartofthecommunityinWinyates,givingfreelyofhistimetogoaboveandbeyondwhatisrequiredinhisworkingrole.Hispatiencewiththosewhoneedhelpandwillingnesstogotheextramilearecommentedontimeandtimeagain,asishiscommitmentandengagementtosomeofthetroubledyoungpeopleheworkswith.HeisaschoolgovernoratRomanWayFirstSchoolandafteroneyearintherolehasnowbeenelectedchair.HeisalsoanincrediblesupporterofRedditchFoodbankhelpingtotrainvolunteers,deliveringfoodparcelsincludingoutofhoursevenaroundChristmastimeandraisedmorethan£400bycycling100milesplusaroundWorcestershire'sfoodbanksforthecause.HehasalsocycledfromRedditchtoParistoraisemoneyforWhizzkids,usinghisownannualleavetomakethetrip.NextontheagendaisthecreationofalocalcreditunionandschoolbanktohelpthoseinfinancialneedandhealsogivesuphiseveningstogainhisTeachingAdultsQualificationallowinghimtowritenewcoursestohelpsupportthosenewtoITandtheinternet.Thisman'smantrais'Wellthat'sjustwhatyoudoisn'tit?'whenaskedabouthisefforts.That'snotthecaseforeveryonethoughandI'mhonouredtodeclareCHRISTHOMAStheprideofRedditch.
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
BarbaraBakewell RedditchAssociationfortheBlind
Althoughsheisnowover90yearsofage,ournextwinnercontinuestomakeavaluablecontributiontothelifeoftheborough.ShehasbeenonthecommitteeofRedditchBlindAssociationforatleastthebestpartofthreedecadesandranthefortnightlyluncheonclubfortheblindandpartiallysightedforthesameperiodoftimebeforeretiringlastDecember,butcontinuestovisitprospectivenewmemberstoseeiftheywouldbenefitfromattending.Threetimesayearshehelpsfundraisebystandingoutsidesupermarketswithacollectiontin,andcontinuestovisitblindpeopletoseehowtheycanbehelpedandreportsbacktothecommittee.Shehelpssupplyandpreparethefoodforupto100membersattheannualChristmaspartyandvisitsvisuallyimpairedpeoplewhocannotattendtoensuretheygettheirwinterexpensesgrant.OntopofallthisshehasbeeninvolvedwithRedditchTalkingNewspaperforalmost30yearsandcontinuestoreadforthemonceamonth.Overtheyearsshehasbeeneditor,helpingtogathernewsitems,contributingpiecesherselfandhelpingembracenewtechnologyasithasemergedovertheyears.Aswellasallthisshefindstimetosupportacatsanctuarywheresheworkseveryweek.She'saninspirationtopeopleofallagesandI'mhonouredtodeclareBARBARABAKEWELLthePrideofRedditch.
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PrideofRedditch2014
LornaWhiteOlderPeople'sForum
OURnextwinner'syearsofdedicationtoRedditchbeganshortlyaftermovingtothetownin1969whenshejoinedtheWoodrowResidents'Association.OvertheyearsshehasbeeninvolvedwithanumberofvoluntaryorganisationsincludingeightyearsasacaseworkerfortheSoldiers,Sailors,AirmenandFamiliesAssociationandsince2002hasbeensecretaryofRedditchOlderPeople'sForum.Sheisanintegralpartofthegroup'sworkinchampioningissuesforolderresidents,aswellashelpingtoorganisethesocialsideoftheiractivities.ShewasinstrumentalinsecuringfreegymequipmentinArrowValleyPark,whichiswellusedbyolderpeople,whomeettowalkandexercisetogetherandsheleadstwiceweeklytaichilessonswhichhelpsdevelopthefitnessofthe20orsoolderpeoplewhoattend.AndwhenshehastimesheraisesmoneyfortheblindandtheLeagueofFriendsattheAlexandraHospital.Althoughwellintoher80sshetellspeoplesheisputtingoffgettingolduntilolderpeople'sserviceshaveimprovedsufficientlyenough,sosheisfarfromfinished.TheQueensawfittohonourherwithanMBEin2012andit'snowmypleasuretodeclareLornaWhitethePrideofRedditch.
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PrideofRedditch2014
SueYeng
FORournextwinner'community'ishermiddlenamehavinggivenmanyyearsofservicetothetownshecallshome.ThroughhertimeaschairofRedditchCommunityForumherpassionhasbeentoensuretherichdiversityRedditchenjoysispromoted,celebratedandthatpeoplesharetheverybestoftheircultureswitheachother,whilerecognisingthosecommonfactorswhichbindustogether.InparticularsheisthedrivingforcebehindRedditchChineseAssociationandplaysaprominentroleinensuringthenextgenerationlearnsabouttheimportanceofChineseNewYearandthatallofthecommunitycancometogethertomarktheoccasion.ShehasalsobeenakeenbackeroftheworkoftheSandycroftCentre,whichremainsavitalsourceofinformation,adviceandsupportforpeoplefromRedditch'sethniccommunity.Shehasalsobeenakeypartofthebandstandcommittee,notonlyhelpingtoreviveoneoftheoldestandunderusedpartsoftheborough,butcreatingaplatformforthediversityofRedditch'scommunitytobeshowcased.OntopofthatsheisalwayskeentopromoteRedditch'srichheritageandhistoryandsupporteffortstoprotectandpreserveit.HermotherwasakeencampaignerforthepeopleofRedditchandIamsureshewouldbeproudherdaughterhascontinuedthatwork,asareweaswedeclareSUEYENGthePrideofRedditch.
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PrideofRedditch2014
RoyPreen
(nophotographavailable)
OurnextwinnerisatruecommunityservantwhoeverydayquietlymakesadifferencetolifeinLakesidewithouteverwinninganypraiseforit.Hiseffortsincludehelpingaround13elderlypeoplebydoingtheirshoppingbecausetheycan'tgettotownandback,eventhoughhe'snotayoungmanhimself.WhenbusserviceswerecuttotheareahewastheonetoorganiseameetingwithrepresentativesfromDiamondBusandcouncillorsandhecontinuestocampaignonbehalfoftheelderly,disabled,hospitalstaffandschoolchildrenaffectedbythecutstoensureanadequateserviceisprovidedfortheirneeds.Healsoconfrontedamanwhowasusingbinocularstolookoveraschoolfenceatchildreninaschoolplayground.Itwaslaterdiscoveredthemaniswantedbypoliceforasexualoffence.Hisotheractivitiesincludehelpingtocampaignforheatinginthebusstation.Heisagenuinelycaring,lovelyman,whobelievesinhelpingthecommunityfornothinginreturn.Sometimesitisthelittlethingsthatmakeahugedifferencetopeople'slives.Withoutpeoplelikethismanourcommunitieswouldn'tbecommunitiesformuchlonger.WeagreeandsowearedelightedtodeclareROYPREENthePrideofRedditch.
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
NaheemAkhtar
EVERYONEneedsgoodneighbourssothethemesongtellsusandifitwasn'tforournextwinnertheHardingfamilymaynotbeheretoday.OnJanuary12at7.10amthekitchenoftheirhomewentupinflames.Twomembersofthefamilyweretrappedinthebedroomscreamingforhelp.Ourwinnercalmlyandatgreatrisktohisownhealthandwellbeing,retrievedsomeladdersandhelpedthemclimboutoftheburningbuildingwhilefirefighterswereontheirwaytothescene.AsoneoftheHardingfamilystatedatthetime'Togouptoahousewhichhadsmokebillowingoutofitisjustamazing.Thefamilyarefantasticthankyoudoesn’tdothemjustice.”Ourwinnerdoesn'tconsiderhimselftobeaherobutwedo.Unfortunatelyhecouldn'tbeherethiseveningbuthisdaughterSarahwillcollecttheawardonhisbehalfaswedeclareNAHEEMAKHTARthePrideofRedditch.
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
MyraBurton
Educationisveryoftenthekeythatunlockssomanydoorsbutitcanonlybeaccessedwiththehelpofagoodteacher.Ournextwinnerhasdedicatedmanyyearsasavolunteerteacherofcraftrelatedskillstohelpothersdeveloptheirsenseofwell-beingandreducesocialisolation,amongstotherthings.FormanyyearsshehastaughtatArthurJobsonHouse,offeringpeoplethechancetolearnanewhobbyandensuretheyremainactiveintheirretirement.ShealsorunstheGetAheadGroup,providinglearningopportunitiesforpeoplewithlowlevelmentalhealthissuesandveryoftenherteachinggoesaboveandbeyondthecallofduty.Shehasonoccasionbeenknowntoteachdirectlyinpeople'shomesiftheirconditionhaspreventedthemfromventuringoutsideandovertimehasencouragedthemtobecomepartofthewidercommunity.Shedoesallthisdespitesufferingmentalhealthissuesofherownandhasprovedtimeandtimeagainthroughsomethingassimpleasasharedactivity,youcanrescuepeoplefromthedarkestplace.WearedelightedtoannounceMYRABURTONisthePrideofRedditch
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
MaggieUnderwood
ITISNOTeverydayyoucansayyousavedaman'slifebutthat'sexactlywhatournextwinnerdid.Whenamancollapsedinfrontofhisyoungdaughter,ourwinnerwasstraightintoaction,usingemergencylife-savingskillsshehadlearntthroughhercharityworktobeginCPRandgethimbreathingagainbeforeparamedicsarrivedtotakeover.AsaresultofherownactionsalittlegirlstillhasherdadforChristmas.Shehasalsocontinued,alongwithherhusband,Robert,tocampaigntomakeRedditchHeartsafebyfund-raisingtoinstalldefibrillatorsmachineswhichcanrestarttheheartintheeventofacardiacarrestinasmanyschoolsandpublicplacesaroundtheboroughandsurroundingareaaspossible.Sofarmorethan50havebeeninstalledwithmorebeingplacedallthetime.Theworksheandherhusbandaredoingreallyissavinglives,asdemonstratedbyherownactions,andthatiswhywearedelightedtopronounceMaggieUnderwoodthePrideofRedditch.
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
Roo&JacquiWilliams
OURnextwinnersareadoubleactwhichhasbeenrecognisedfortheirtirelessfund-raisingforcharityandsupportofthehomeless.InparticulartheyhaveraisedseveralthousandpoundsfortheBrainTumourCancerCharityandoneofthemistrainingfornextyear'sLondonMarathonwiththeaimofraisinganother£10,000forthecause.TheyalsoworkhardtoraiseawarenessofRedditchNightstopandtohelporganiseeventsprovidingmealsandentertainmentforthehomelessatStStephen'sChurch,forwhichtheypayforthedrinkandfood.TheyarealsosupportersoftheRonaldMcDonaldHousebyaskinglocalbusinessestodonatetohelpprovidebedsoverChristmas.Theydoallthiswhilerunningtheirownbusinessandraisingayoungfamily.IamdelightedtodeclareROOANDJACQUIWILLIAMSthePrideofRedditch.
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PrideofRedditch2014
Dave&ClareEdwards RedditchSeaCadetCorp
OURnextawardgoestoacouplewhotogetherhavemadeadifferencetothelivesoftheyoungpeopleintheborough,givingthemasenseofpurposeandinsomecasesafuturecareer.OneofthemhasshownimmensededicationasSergeantandDetachmentCommanderofRedditchSeaCadetCorpandformedthecadetdetachmentofHMSKingfisherhelpingtorunthegroup'snumerousactivitiesanddeveloptheskillofyoungpeople.Asaresultofhiseffortsmanyofthemhavegoneontobecomeasuccessfulpartoftheregulararmyandmarines.Despitebeingdiagnosedwithcancerhehascontinuedtosupportandencouragetheworkofthecadets.Alongsidehimisawomanwhoforthelastnineyearshasmanagedthecadetbandandunderherguidancethegrouphaswonnationalcompetitionsandplaysaregularpartintheborough'ssocialcalendar,appearingateventsincludingAstwoodBankCarnivalandlocalremembranceSundayparades.Shewillnowbetakingontheroleofdetachmentcommanderfromherhusbandandensuringtheyoungcadetscontinuetobeexcellentrepresentativesofthetown.LadiesandgentlemenIamdelightedtodeclareDaveandClareEdwardsthePrideofRedditch.
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PrideofRedditch2014
JanetJohnsonRedditchPlayCouncil
Forthebestpartofthelasttwodecadesournextwinnerhasworkedtirelesslytoprovideaffordableaccesstoplayforchildrenagednoughtto11throughRedditchPlayCouncilanddeliveraplacewheretheycanlearntointeractandgainsomeindependencewhilealsosupportingtheirparentssomeofwhomhaveverycomplexfamilylives.Ithasnotbeenaneasytaskasitrequireshertoputinmanyhoursofunpaidworkandarelentlesssearchforgrantfundingtoensurethosevitalservicescancontinueforthelocalcommunityandthethreemembersofstaffcurrentlyemployedkeeptheirjobs.Asoneofhernominatorssaid:“Idon’tknowwheretheplaycouncilwouldbeorwhatwouldhavehappenedtoalltheparentsandchildrenshehashelpedandcontinuedtohelpeveryday.”ShecontinuestoapproachherjobwithoptimismandenergyandnevercomplainsdespiteadailybattlewithLymeDisease.LadiesandgentlemanIampleasedtodeclareJANETJOHNSONthePrideofRedditch
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PrideofRedditch2014
HarrietErnstsonsMHAG
OURnextwinnerhastakenaverypersonalandalmosttragicexperienceandusedittochallengethesystemtodeliverchangearoundthewaymentalhealthservicesaredelivered.Mostpeoplewouldstruggletoadmittheytriedtotaketheirlifetotheirownfamilyandclosefriends,soannouncingittothroughthefrontpageofthelocalnewspapertomorethan40,000householdstakesimmensebravery.Butbecauseofthecourageshehasshownithasencouragedotherstobreaktheirsilenceandchallengethestigmaaroundmentalillnessanddemandbetterfromthosewithinthehealthservice.ThroughherrolechairingRedditchMentalHealthActionGroupshecontinuestoscoureveryavenueforfundingtodelivervariousprojectswhichcanmakearealdifferencetopeople,particularlywithlowlevelmentalhealthissuesandfillthegaptheNHSleaveswideopen.LadiesandgentlemanitismypleasuretodeclareHARRIETERNSTSONSthePrideofRedditch
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
TheNisbetFamily
Volunteersarethebackboneofanytownandournextwinnersareafineexampleofthis.ForthelastfouryearstheyhavebeenkeensupportersoftheSpectrumClubrunbyYourIdeashelpingtoprovideadditionalsupportforyoungpeopleontheautisticspectrum,suchaspreparingthosegoingtouniversity,creatingmuchneededsocialopportunitiesandmentoringvulnerableyoungpeople.Theyhaveraisedatleast£3,000forlocalcauseswith£1,500ofthatbeingfortheSpectrumClub.Theiractivitieshaveincludedtakingpartina24hourgameathon,runningChristmasfayres,andwalking96milesdressedasLordoftheRingcharacters.OthercausestheyhavesupportedincludetheFriendsofUpperFordLodgeandWorcestershireBreastUnitCampaign.LadiesandgentlemanitismypleasuretodeclareTHENISBETFAMILYthePrideofFamily.
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PrideofRedditch2014
RedditchFirstResponders
Whenwedial999andcallforanambulancewewanttoknowhelpwillbewithusasquicklyaspossible,thankstoagroupofdedicatedvolunteersthatisincreasinglythecaseinRedditch.Theygiveuptheirfreetimearoundtheirpaidemploymenttorushtomedicalemergenciestostartdeliveringvitaltreatmentwhileanambulancecrewsisenroute.Theyareentirelyself-fundedandhavetoraisethemoneytobuyeverythingfromuniformstodiagnosticmedicalequipmentandevenresponsecarsallowingthemtoprovide24/7coverage.Thisyeartheyhavesuccessfullyraisedover£9,000whichhasenabledthemtoexpandthenumberofvolunteerscoveringtheborough.Aswellashelpingtosavelivestheyalsodelivervitalfirstaidtrainingandteach999awarenesstocommunitygroupsandschools,againfreeofchargeandonavoluntarybasis.Sofarin201418freesessionshavebeendeliveredwithmoreplannedin2015.Therearecurrently12ofthesecrucialvolunteersinRedditchwithplanstoexpandtheteamfurther.ItisanhonourtodeclareREDDITCHFIRSTRESPONDERSthePrideofRedditch.
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
LloydsBank
Ournextwinnerisourfirstbusinessawardthisevening.ThisisagroupwefeelmakeahugecontributiontothesuccessofRedditchbutareoftenoverlooked.Thisgroupinparticulardefythestereotypeattachedtotheirsector.Afterhearingofagroupofveteransdesperatelytryingtoraise£10,000sotheycouldvisitArnhemtopaytributetotheirfallencomradeslostduringtheSecondWorldWartheydecidedtohelp.Itinitiallyappearedtobeahugemountaintoclimbbuttheynotonlymetthetargetbuttheysmasheditthroughadeterminedseriesoffund-raisingevents.TheseincludedenlistingstaffandcustomerstowalkthedistancefromRedditchtothesiteoftheDDaylandingsinNormandyonatreadmillsome255miles,cyclingfromRedditchtoArnheminthreedays,quizzesandothersmallerevents.Another£2,500wasraisedthroughthecreationofaspecialpinbadgedesignedbyamemberofstafftomarkthe70thanniversaryofOperationMarketGarden.Injust20weekstheyraisedmorethan£17,000whichnotonlyallowedupto20veteransandtheircarerstopay,whatwillbeformanytheirlastvisittoArnhem,toremembertheircomradesbutalsoformoneytobegiventotheair,seaandarmycadets.LadiesandgentlemanIamdelightedtodeclarethestaffofLloydsBankthePrideofRedditch
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
YourIdeas
Ournextwinnerbelieveseveryyoungpersoninourboroughhassomethingtocontributeandhassetaboutprovingthatthroughitsyouthandcommunityproject.Itworkswithavarietyofyoungpeoplefromallbackgroundsprovidingactivitiesandopportunitiesincludingartandsportaswellasweeklyyouthclubsanddrop-insessions.Akeyfocusoftheirworkiswithyoungpeopleontheautisticspectrum,helpingreduceisolationamongstthisgroup,increaseindependenceandsupportyoungpeoplewithAsperger’sthroughtransitionalstages,improvingboththeirphysicalandmentalwell-being.Theyprovidesupportwithindependentlivingskillsandvolunteeringopportunities.Youngpeoplealsohavetheopportunitytocreatetheirownprogrammeandruntripsandvisitstogether.Thegroupreliesheavilyonthesupportofitsdedicatedbandofvolunteersandlikemostcommunitygroupsfacesatirelesssearchforcontinuedfunding.Theimpacttheyhaveontheyoungpeopletheyworkwithcannotbeunderestimated.Asonenomineeputit‘theyarealifelinehelpingtheseyoungpeoplegrowintoWonderfuladults’ThatiswhyIamdelightedtorecogniseYOURIDEASasthePrideofRedditch
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
McDonalds
Whentimesaretoughandeverypennycounts,ittakesalottobewillingtogiveuppartofyoursalarytosupportacharity.Butthatisexactlywhatournextgroupofwinnershavebeendoingforthelastthreeyears.Theirpayrollgivingschemehasbeensigneduptobyaround80percentofemployeesandhelpedraiseover£50,000toprovideaplaceforfamilieswithsickchildrenbeingtreatedatBirminghamChildren’sHospitaltostay.Consideringsomeofthemareonly16andonminimumwageitisasignificantactofcharity.TheyalsospendhoursoftheirowntimevolunteeringattheRonaldMcDonaldHousemakingbeds,cleaningorhelpingoutwithadministrativework.Theirfund-raisingalonehashelpedprovidenumerousNightsofstaysforsomanyFamilies..Itsactsofkindnesssuchasthesewhichmakeahugedifferencebutgounnoticed.That’swhywearedelightedtorecognisethestaffofMcDonald’sinRedditchasthePrideofRedditch.
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PrideofRedditch2014
MarkMorris
OURnextwinnerhasbeenavolunteerforaboutfiveyearsworkingwithyoungpeoplefromarangeofbackgrounds.HehasgivenmanyhoursofhistimeonaweeklybasistohelptheYourIdeasgrouponaprojectworkingwithchildrenfacingmanycomplexchallengesinlifemakingithardforthemtotrustadults.Havingfacedsimilarissuesinhisowncolourfulyouthandbecauseofhisdowntoearthmannertheyoungpeoplehewasinvolvedwithwereabletorelatetohimeasilyandhewasabletorespondtotheirneeds.Althoughhewaseventuallyofferedsomepaidworkastheprojectgrew,hehascontinuedtovolunteerhistimeonaweeklygrouphelpingtostartanover50sgroup.Hehasundertakenanythingthrownathimfromgardeningwithreluctantgardenerstofootballandtenniscoaching,helpingwithtripsandeventheoddbitofdecorating.Everyorganisationneedssomeonelikehimtobeabletothrive.I'mdelightedtodeclareMARKMORRISthePrideofRedditch.
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PrideofRedditch2014
RedditchSpecialOlympics
OurnextawardgoestoagroupofpeoplewhoepitomisetheOlympicspirit.Thegroupreliessolelyonvolunteerstoprovideyearroundsportstrainingandcompetitiveopportunitiesforpeoplewithlearningdisabilities.Since1994ithasallowedtheseinspiringindividualstocompeteinawiderangeofsportswithstaggeringsuccess.TheyhavealreadyprovedtheyaretheprideofRedditchbypickingup25medalsatlastyear'sNationalSummerGamesinBath,15ofthosemedalsweregolds.Thesuccesshascontinuedin2014withthegroupwinning4gold,7silverand3bronzemedalsatRedditchSwimmingGala,attendedby147swimmersfromacrosstheregionaswellasreachingthefinaloftheBirminghamFAFootballCompetitionandWestMidlandsBasketBalltournament.Allthisisdowntothehardworkofpeoplegivingfreelyoftheirtimetoruntrainingsessionsandsourcefundingsotheycancontinuetocompete.TheircouragemakeseveryoneofthemawinnerandtonightwearehonouredtodeclareSpecialOlympicsRedditchthePrideofRedditch.
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PrideofRedditch2014
KellyWhitehouseMacmillan
Sometimeswecanforgetthecontributionpeoplemakebecausetheirpositionispartoftheirjob.Butournextwinnergoesaboveandbeyondtheregular9to5demandsofherworkasafund-raisingmanagerforMacmillanCancerSupporttoensurethevitalservicestheyprovidecontinue.Shegetstoknoweveryoneofthevolunteerssheworkswith-personally,takestimeouttovisitthemregularly,encouragesthemandsupportsthefund-raisingtheydoforthecharity.Shetouchesthelivesofeveryoneshemeetsandmanagestoraiseasmileonthefaceofeventhosewhoarefacingthebleakestoffutures.Outsideofworkshevolunteersinhersparetime,isacarerforhermumandiscurrentlysupportingherdadthroughcanceraswellasprovidingmentoringandpersonalsupportforthosestrugglingwitharangeofissues.TherearesomanypeopleinRedditchwhohavebenefitedfromtheservicesheprovidesbothinsideandoutsideofwork,andthelivesofthoseshehastouchedwouldbepoorerwithouther.ItgivesmegreatpleasuretodeclareKellyWhitehousethePrideofRedditch.
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
FellowsFamily
WHENfacedwithatragedy,particularlyoneinvolvingthelossofachild,theeasiestthingtodowouldbetoallowgrieftoconsumeyouandshutyourselfofffromtheworld.Ittakesimmensebraveryandcouragetostandupandcontinuetotalkaboutthattragedyinthehopeofstoppingithappeningtoothers.Butthat'sexactlywhatournextgroupofwinnershavedone.Followingthedevastatinglossof15-year-oldRichardFellows,whodrownedintheRiverArrowearlierthisyear,hisfamilyhavedoneeverythingtheycantoraiseawarenessofwatersafetyissuesbysettinguptheOpenWaterAngelscampaigninhismemory.ItwasinpartduetotheirworkwiththeRoyalLifeSavingSocietyandRedditchBoroughCouncilthatthissummerworkshopstookplaceineveryhighschoolintheboroughtoraiseawarenessofthedangersofopenwaterswimming.Inadditiontheyhaveraised£1,000tofundtheirworkthroughaPromnightstagedatatownnightclub,asRicharddidnotgettoattendhisownprom,abingonightandsellingraffleticketsandwristbands.TheyhavealsobeenworkingoverthesummerwithBatchleySupportGrouptoputonactivitiesforolderchildrenwhoareatparticularriskofgoingintoopenwater.Theirdesiretogettheirmessageacrossandpreventanyoneelseexperiencingthelosstheyhavegonethroughisremarkable.IamhumbledandprivilegedtodeclareCHANTELLEANDPAULASTONandRICHARDANDDENISEFELLOWSthePrideofRedditch.
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
LucieSouthallLeukaemiaFund
OURfinalwinnersthiseveningIknowwouldrathernotbehere.Theworktheydounfortunatelyhasbeenmotivatedbythetragiclossofayounggirlwhomeanttheworldtothem.LucieSouthallwasjust12-years-oldwhenshepassedawayfromLeukaemiainAugust2013.Duringthatperiodherfamilyreceivednotonlyfreeaccommodation,allowingherparentstobeclosebyheratalltimes,butemotionalsupportfromstaffattheRonaldMcDonaldHousesituatedatthebackofBirminghamChildren'sHospitalwhereLuciewassoexpertlycaredfor.Despitebeingdevastatedbytheirloss,supportedbyfriendsandfamily,theyhavesetabouttoensuretheserviceofferedbythehousecontinuestobeavailabletootherfamiliesinsimilarsituations.Theyhaveheld,raffles,auctions,adartsnightandtheyhaveevenorganisedabungeejumpandconvincedRedditch'sMPtogetinvolved.Sofartheireffortshaveraisedmorethan£40,000whichhasfundedtwobedroomswithinthehouseforthreeyears,whichiscrucialgiventhehousereliessolelyondonations.SomeofthemoneyhasalsobeendonatedtohelprefurbishWard15withinthechildren'shospital,thepaediatricintensivecareunit,andCLICSargentwhichisacharitythatprovidesfinancialandemotionalsupporttohelpyoungpeopleandtheirfamilieswithcancerandTheWillowsHedgehogSanctuaryinBromsgrove.AndonSunday,December21theywilldeliver£3,000worthofiPad,craftsetsandITunesvouchersforthechildren'shospitalwithmoneyleftoverfromtheir2014calendar.Iknowtheyhavemixedemotionsaboutacceptingthisaward,theywouldallrathertheoutcomehadbeenverydifferent,butIamsureLuciewouldbesoproudoftheworktheyaredoinginhername.LadiesandgentlemenitismyprivilegetodeclaretheLUCIESOUTHALLLEUKAEMIAFUNDthePrideofRedditch.
2014AwardWinners
PrideofRedditch2014
OrganisedbyRebeccaBlakeMainSponsorTheRedditchStandardplus…..Manythankstoallthosewhotookpart,oursponsors,oursupportersandthemanypeoplewhoworkedsohardtomakethiseventsuchasuccess.