Saltford Parish Council (SPC) is pleased to announce the winners of its Community Awards 2021.
For 2021 only SPC agreed to add additional categories to its Community Awards to recognise the amazing efforts of the Saltford community during the COVID19 pandemic.
Usually the announcement of winners follows the awards ceremony, which was due to take place in May. Due to the current roadmap out of lockdown it is now planned for the Community Awards ceremony to take place in early September, pending restrictions at the time. Winners of the SPC Community Awards 2020 will also be recognised at the same event, following the cancellation of the ceremony last year.
Despite delaying the awards ceremony, SPC would like to publicly announce the names of the winners now in recognition of their contribution to the Saltford community. Saltford Parish Council has already made five of the £75 prize donations in the winners’ names to the Saltford group, charity, organisation or project of their choice, and looks forward to hearing from other winners about their prize donations.
SPC congratulates all the winners of the Community Awards 2021, and looks forward to the time that the Chair of Saltford Parish Council can present each of the winners with their certificate in front of their family and friends.
2021 winners are as follows:
Outstanding Contribution (COVID19 Response) – Saltford Support Hub
The Saltford Support Hub was chosen by Councillors to receive the ‘Outstanding Contribution – COVID19 response’ special award, an award created in recognition of the Hub’s outstanding contribution to the community since March 2019. The Saltford Support Hub’s remarkable response and extensive programme of support for the village due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been nothing short of remarkable. The work of the Hub has shown Saltford at its best as a caring community. The support for vulnerable residents shielding during the pandemic – and especially during three lockdowns – was invaluable and reassuring for so many. On going support includes the ‘Saltford Hardship Fund’ as well as opening up employment initiatives for residents. Due to the numerous teams and individuals involved in the Hub, SPC wishes to recognise the Saltford Support Hub as the umbrella organisation through its awards scheme, though sincerely thanks each and every person involved.
The Saltford Support Hub has chosen to donate their prize to the Saltford Community Association to fund outside facilities for users of the Avon Room at Saltford Hall.
Chair’s Award – The staff team at Tesco in Saltford, and the staff team at Day Lewis pharmacy in Saltford
This special award follows nominations by the Chair of SPC, Cllr Chris Warren, to acknowledge the friendly and supportive service given to customers at Tesco and Day Lewis Pharmacy, especially during periods of lockdown when their staff were working in challenging circumstances and restrictions. The efforts made by staff to help serve Saltford residents was much appreciated, and in the Chair’s view – and as voted on by full council – deserving of public recognition. (SPC is awaiting to hear which good causes the staff at both Tesco Saltford and Day Lewis Pharmacy wish their prize fund to go towards).
Volunteer Team of the Year – Saltford District Girl Guides and Brownies
SPC has given this award in recognition of the leadership of the volunteers who run the Girl Guides and Brownies, especially during the past difficult year, where the team’s initiatives allowed the girls to continue to interact via Zoom during a time where there was a lack of contact between peers. This was viewed as invaluable by the person who nominated the team for the Volunteer Team of the Year award. Further, SPC recognises the long-standing efforts and achievements of the Saltford District Girl Guides and Brownies, and the positive impact that your team has on the local community. (The Saltford District Girl Guides and Brownies will let SPC know which charity, group or organisation he will be donating his prize to).
Volunteer Team of the Year (COVID19 Response) – Saltford Scrubs
The Saltford Scrubs efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic was greatly admired by the Council, and the team’s crucial support to local hospitals, hospices and care homes was highly valued by many. The person nominating the Saltford Scrubs stated: “They have been and are still are providing free sets of scrubs to local hospitals, the Children’s Hospice South West, carers and local care homes. Since all clothing has to be washed each day at 60 degrees this takes a terrific toll on fabrics and scrubs are vital to wear under PPE. The group have also made laundry bags for the scrubs, masks for vulnerable and elderly people in the village, Fiddle bags for dementia sufferers and bunting (from scraps) for the Saltford Hall”. On receiving the award, Saltford Scrubs (now renamed Skrubs+) co-ordinator Angela contacted SPC to say “Saltford Scrubs grew from an initial chat between Tanya & I into a group of almost 100 in a very short space of time during April 2020 in response to the pandemic and the urgent need for PPE. Apart from those who signed up to our group to sew, wash, iron, dye fabric, make deliveries and carry out administration, we couldn’t have achieved anything without numerous donations of linen & bedding from all our neighbours in the local BS31 community, so our thanks go to all those who supported us in any way. Group members were delighted to have won & we held a vote regarding the which organisation should be the beneficiary of your prize. The unanimous verdict was that it should go to Saltford Community Association“.
Achievement Award – Maurice Short
Maurice Short was recognised via SPC’s Awards following his many years of substantial contribution to the community as a volunteer, particularly both as a SPC Councillor in the 1990s and as special constable in the area in the 1960s and 1970s.
Maurice has donated his prize to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.
Achievement Award – Mark Smee
Mark was nominated for an SPC award in recognition of his many years of volunteering for the Saltford Scouts, and especially the difference he has made to the younger generation in Saltford over almost 40 years. The time, commitment and enthusiastic way he has delivered Scouting – and the positive effect this has had on our village over so many years – is greatly valued and Cllrs were unanimous in agreeing that Mark’s contribution was deserving of recognition through its community awards. Mark has donated his prize award to the Saltford Scouts.
Achievement Award (COVID19 Response) – Ann Britton
SPC is pleased to award Ann in recognition of her contribution to the community during the COVID19 pandemic. Her tireless work as a nurse and particularly vaccinating residents against COVID19 is highly valued – the person who nominated Ann declared her ‘an unsung Saltford hero’! Ann has contacted SPC to let us know that she would like her prize to go to the Saltford Environment Group.
Achievement Award (COVID19 Response) – Trish Hubbard
Trish has been given an Achievement Award (COVID19 response) in recognition of her contribution to the community during the COVID19 pandemic, when she kept the Saltford Community Post Office open to deliver a key service throughout lockdowns when permitted, as well as ensuring that the post office was a COVID19 secure environment. SPC also recognises the importance of the friendly welcome Trish gave to those who used the PO during this time – Councillors recognised that those for whom the trip to the PO was one of the few times they left home or met another person in the week that such a welcome was greatly valued during difficult times.
Trish has chosen to donate her prize to Saltford Community Library.
Business of the Year (COVID19 Response) – Saltford Golf Club
Saltford Golf Club has been given an SPC award in recognition of the highly valued access to green space by residents during the lockdowns experienced during the COVID19 pandemic. SPC greatly appreciates Saltford Golf Club recognising the need for residents to exercise in pleasant local surroundings during difficult times when travel was severely restricted. Many residents expressed thanks to Saltford Golf Club on SPC’s social media pages for being allowed access.
The prize awarded to the Golf Club will go to its Club Captain’s Charity Fund, which this year is raising funds to help the fight against Multiple Sclerosis.
Young Person of the Year – Theo Young
Theo’s efforts regarding fund raising during COVID19 as well as helping with maintenance projects at the Scout Hut make him a highly worthy winner. The person nominating Theo highlighted the many ways that he has contributed both to Saltford and wider fundraising initiatives, and stated that ‘his willingness to help others and positivity are a great example to others, and he is a credit to himself and the village as a whole’. Saltford Parish Council is delighted to award such a positive and active person with the ‘Young Person of the Year’ award.
Theo has chosen to donate his prize money to the Saltford Scouts, and we’ve been informed he has some great ideas on what it’s going to go towards!
More information can be found on SPC’s Community Awards page.