Warminster community heroes have been celebrated at the annual town council Civic Awards.
Invited guests enjoyed an afternoon tea as Warminster Town Mayor, Cllr Stacie Allensby, presented the winners with framed certificates on Monday 9th December.
The popular awards are nominated by the public, voted for by Warminster Town Councillors and given to highlight examples of local community spirit and those who have ‘gone the extra mile’.
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Cllr Stacie Allensby said:
I’d like to wholeheartedly congratulate all seven winners and thank them on behalf of the people of Warminster for the contribution they make to our town.
These awards highlight that community spirit is alive and well across Warminster. The town council is proud to host the Civic Awards and celebrate the people within our community who give so much.
Beth Mullins, Beth Neale and Ben Cooke were the winners of the Civic Award for their tireless work with The Westbury and Warminster Youth Club.
The Grovelands Countryside and Wildlife Group represented by Carolyn Granville, Marc Granville and Len Turner were awarded the Green Civic Award for their commitment and work.
Jessica Williams’s enthusiasm and determination as one of The Westbury and Warminster Youth Club’s young leaders was awarded with a Junior Civic Award.
The full citations for each winner can be seen below:
Civic Award 2024: Beth Mullins, Beth Neale, Ben Cooke
The two Beths and Ben are the driving force behind the incredible team from The Westbury and Warminster Youth Club; they encompass the definition of community spirit, running a weekly youth club for 11- to 19-year-olds and up to 25 with learning disabilities.
Various activities are provided for the young people, ranging from cookery to crafting to facepainting. They are diligent and caring when dealing with the young people who attend the Club, and as a result they clearly feel very comfortable and safe with them as they share so much.
In addition, they deliver detached youth work in Warminster, providing positive diversionary activities. They take the time to engage, interact and educate the young people of Warminster. They provide young people with a listening ear and act without judgement but are still able to challenge anti-social behaviour.
As the team work hard to form strong connections with the young people, they have been able to support and safeguard children around issues that would not have been reported. By building this rapport they have become a safe space for some young people.
The team have a great working relationship with the local policing team, and this has helped officers to connect with some of the previously hard to reach young people. They help to bridge the gap between some young people and services. Those young people who the police and local authority find difficult to connect with can be more easily engaged through such positive settings.
The team help develop resilience to youth offending and anti-social behaviour, as well as provide the young people of Warminster with an outlet for some much-needed fun.
Green Civic Award 2024: The Grovelands Countryside and Wildlife Group represented by Carolyn Granville, Marc Granville and Len Turner
The Grovelands Countryside and Wildlife Group have actively managed the Grovelands Wildlife area and ‘Western Field’ since 2016 and its volunteers have undertaken a vast amount of work to improve the area.
Len Turner as Chair of the Group, does most of the administration and organisation of working parties, liaising with Wiltshire Council and subject matter experts, securing grants and purchasing and storing equipment.
Marc and Carolyn Granville are dedicated to maintaining and improving the Grovelands Area and use their own extensive knowledge complemented by extensive research to decide what works volunteers should be doing and most importantly the methods which should be used to enhance areas and minimise disturbance to existing habitats by identifying risks.
Marc Granville devotes many extra hours in the afternoons and evenings to mowing footpaths, clearing overgrowth, and keeping the River Were and the weir clear to maintain proper flow and maintain an ideal habitat for the water voles. Both Marc and Carolyn are keen wildlife photographers and have created the Group’s photographic record.
Junior Civic Award 2024: Jessica Williams
Jess is one of Westbury and Warminster Youth Club’s young leaders. Jess joined the Youth Club three years ago when she wasn’t old enough to be a young leader. From the start she showed enthusiasm and a desire to be a young leader to give something back to her peers.
In 2023 an opportunity arose to run the Club’s weekly tuck shop. Every week Jess gives her time, sacrificing spending time with her friends, to come to youth club and run the tuck shop serving her peers and generating an income for the Club.
Not only does she do this, she also proactively volunteered to help face paint at Spring in the Park 2024 at the Club’s stall. Jess was determined to help all day despite having the choice to only do a couple of hours. During the day Jess, along with other members of the team, face painted over 80 faces raising vital funds for the Club.
Jess volunteered to be one of the team face painting at Pumpkins in the Park, again helping to raise money for the Club. Through running the tuck shop and helping at Spring in the Park, Jess has already helped to raise over £250 for the Club so far this year.
For more information contact Warminster Town Council, Tel: 01985 214847 or email: admin@warminster-tc.gov.uk
Last modified: 11 December 2024
