March 22, 2024 - 300 views
The High Sheriff of Clwyd’s Annual Community Awards were recently held at the home of the current High Sheriff Kate Hill-Trevor. Those invited to attend were nominated by others in the community and The High Sheriff was delighted to be able to recognise and personally thank them for their dedication and commitment to the voluntary sector and their local communities.
Kate Hill-Trevor said: "Being High Sheriff is a tremendous privilege which has given me the opportunity to learn more about the uplifting projects that are happening here in North Wales and to meet some incredible people. Volunteers are active at the heart of every UK community, and it is very clear that the millions of people who give their time and skills to charities and community projects are quite simply an essential part of the world today.
"However, this work often goes unseen and unsung. These awards give me an opportunity to recognise a small number of the volunteers and organisations who work tirelessly within Clwyd to make a difference to those around them”.
The High Sheriff also welcomed the winners of the Crimebeat North Wales Project of the Year in Clwyd, Rhyl Youth Boxing Club - chosen in recognition of the outstanding work done by the club to support young people in Rhyl. She presented the Head Coach - Dan Andrews, A-J Hughes one of the young boxers and PC Simon Keeting from North Wales Police who is also a volunteer Coach at the Club with a glass trophy.
She said: “Crimebeat supports projects undertaken to help to keep young people out of trouble, support victims of crime, stimulate an interest in voluntary work, improve school attendance and behaviour and generally improve the lives of everyone in the community.
“This year’s winners are a not-for-profit club who provide boxing training for young people from all social backgrounds as well as those disabilities and several Ukrainian refugees.
“They build friendships, respect and support between different generations and with the police, helping with social cohesion and a reduction in antisocial behaviour issues in the area, and are a wonderful example of the type of project that Crimebeat supports”.
Nominations for the Community Awards are sought each year, with 2 individuals and one group winner being chosen from each of the four areas (Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham) that make up the now ceremonial preserved county of Clwyd.
The High Sheriff was delighted to have had a good number of nominations from a wide range of people and organisations: “This is a wonderful reflection of the strength of the voluntary sector here in North Wales but it does make it very tough for the panel to choose the winners”.
Awards were presented in the presence of the Lord-Lieutenant, Henry Fetherstonhaugh OBE FRAgS, Superintendent Jon Bowcott and Special Constabulary Chief Officer of North Wales Police Mark Owen MBE, Ashley Rogers - Chair of PACT (Police and Community Trust) and Clwyd’s Under Sheriff - Mrs Sarah Noton of Swayne Johnson Solicitors, past High Sheriffs, the Chief Officers and representatives of the four Voluntary Councils of the area and selected guests.
The winners in Conwy and Denbighshire was as follows:
Jenny and Hughie Fitzpatrick In recognition of their work to support the communities of Kinmel Bay.
Ann Vaughan In recognition of her work to support the communities of Bro Cernyw.
Incredible Edible Colwyn In recognition of their work establishing a number of community edible gardens in Colwyn Bay.
Nerys Haf Biddulph In recognition of her work to support refugee communities in Rhyl and Prestatyn.
Malcolm Wilkinson In recognition of his work with Friends of the Ffrith and community groups in Prestatyn and Meliden.
The Denbigh Workshop In recognition of their summer school programme working with disadvantaged young people.
