Thanks to our amazing award sponsor, Liz Theakston Events, we have some lovely certificates to give out to all nominees. We hope that it will be a lovely reminder for you in the future about how much we missed you during lockdown, and how grateful the Harrogate & Knaresborough community are for everything that you do.
If you are a winner & you would like to claim your certificate then please fill in this quick form here so that we know where to send it to!
This award is aimed at anyone that has done something amazing during lockdown
We’ve also got some digital badges for all nominees. Please help yourself & download your badge. You are welcome to use them wherever you want- on your social media channels, on your websites etc. Let everyone know how loved you are!
Click here to download “Lockdown Local Hero ” badge as PDF
If you know any of the winners, please be sure to tell them they’ve been mentioned. We want to spread this lovely news far & wide!
Love from Sally, Kate, Kayti & Evie at Harrogate Mumbler x
P.s, next up is the “Rainbow Award” category, which will be published on Thursday 30th July.
Winners “We Missed You” Harrogate Mumbler Love Local Awards 2020
A2B Removals Harrogate
- For moving key workers throughout the whole of lockdown whilst putting his own life at risk
Alan Evans
- Alan’s new business The Geek Bar formerly Le2D, had its launch day, 2 days before Lockdown and was intended to provide a venue for Family and friends to play various board games. To have money coming in he refurbished the old Le2D kitchen and started providing Various Hotdogs, Chili and Cocktails vía the Let Eat app. Which has become very popular.
All Key Workers
- Including delivery drivers For being cheerful and doing their job while others cannot.
Ami Stott – Rhythm Time
- Other than running her usual classes, Ami has been raising money for local (and wider) causes.. handing out love parcels just to spread kindness… and checking in on everyone on a regular basis.
- Always does her best to make the children and adults! laugh, have fun and join in with her classes. Brilliant ongoing classes all throughout… lots of themes and extra things to take part in online. It’s not just a one off class a week… it’s a week of activities if you want to be involved. Her dedication and enthusiasm is infectious. We love her
Andrew Watts, Milkman
- Andrew took us on as customers at the start of lockdown and has provided excellent service throughout the last 3 months. Without this essential service we would have been lost. Nothing has been too much trouble and his personal service has been excellent. Reliability come rain or shine!
Catherine Crompton
- For her work providing bananas to key workers with Resurrected Bites. While the rest of us were just starting to get our heads around lockdown, Cath and co. had already thought ahead, seen the need and got to work.
- She has worked tirelessly collecting and distributing food to two local food banks whilst also managing to run a house and home-school her children.
- For helping others during coronavirus crisis. Donating food, visiting the vulnerable. A wonderful person who took it upon herself to help others
- Catherine was working as a Food Tech Consultant prior to lockdown. She quickly joined the Covid Cooperation Harrogate group because she wanted to help those struggling and has devoted several hours every day since lockdown started collecting food and supplies from all over Harrogate and beyond to donate to Resurrected Bites and Harrogate Food bank. She has used her contacts in the food industry so that she is able to collect regular donations for these 2 charities struggling during the coronavirus crisis travelling as far as Batley to collect biscuits from Foxes where she used to work. Catherine has worked tirelessly in trying to feed families and children affected by the lockdown, whilst also home schooling her 2 children and sacrificing time with her own family. She isn’t looking for praise or recognition and gets genuine, heartfelt joy from knowing that she is helping to feed families and help people get through the crisis. Catherine truly deserves an award in my opinion as she is an unsung hero in my eyes, working tirelessly behind the scenes in collecting and delivering food to those in need. I am proud to say she is my friend and her hard work has meant that families have been helped to survive in these difficult times.
- Since the beginning of lockdown Catherine has thrown herself in to volunteering more than full time hours as well as juggling home schooling her children. The work she does with Covid Co-operation and Resurrected Bites has ensured many vulnerable and needy Harrogate residents have received the food and support they have needed to get through such challenging times. She is an absolute star.
- Catherine has been going to large food companies around Yorkshire and getting food donations and distributing the food to Harrogate NHS staff also to the food bank and to people sheilding,also taking jigsaws and DVD,s to people.Then once a week in the middle of home schooling she travels down to brighouse to bring me food although she can only come into the garden,she has been doing this for the last 10 weeks.If there are flowers at the food bank at the end of the week she takes them and drops them on peoples doorstep to cheer them up a bit
- Shielding Group Catherine is a very busy Admin of a wonderful Shielding Group in Harrogate, of which I am a member. She also collects & volunteers on behalf of The Food Bank & Resurrection Bites, spending large parts of her day, calling at peoples‘ houses, to collect food donations & dropping them off. In between all this, she home schools her 2 children. Catherine has become a lifeline to me, as I’ve been in shielding with my partner for over 3 months. She’s become my only visitor, picking up our food donation each week & bringing flowers & biscuits to cheer us both up. Always staying to have a socially distanced chat – nothing is ever to much trouble for this truly lovely lady. She also messages me to make sure that I’m doing ok which is so much appreciated. This is may way of saying ‘thank you Catherine’ for everything you do for so many people – you’re an absolute gem!
Catherine Linfoot and Lauren Rogerson
- Lauren runs a local beavers club, due to lockdown the club had to stop meeting. During lockdown she has set up a zoom call every week with the boys and girls in the club. They have carried out donations for the Harrogate food bank and are currently collecting items from the children for a local nursing home to cheer them up during lockdown. Every week she comes up with fun games and challenges for the children to do and has been a great support to parents also. Term payments stopped at the beginning of lockdown so she is doing this in her spare time.
Catherine Morland
- She has baked for England and donated the products to local good causes She and her family ran a 24 hour relay marathon around the streets of knaresborough and donated over £3000 to the local food bank
Catherine Pyman
- She has been a lifeline and a wealth of information through the lockdown keeping us constantly updated on grants and options available. We would have struggled to keep on top of the options without her.
Catherine Wright
- Catherine organised the HG Lockdown Fest over the back holiday weekend. Not only great for people to be occupied by being entertained or educated, it also allowed local businesses to have some exposure to potential new customers. And it raised thousands of pounds for Harrogate Hospital Charity. Catherine is also organising the Mercer Gallery online art show.
- For organising hglockdown which provided lots of entertainment and learning over the May bank holiday and raised lots of money for local charities.
Charlie Lovatt
- Goes above and beyond to put other before herself. She’s always thinking of ways to make other happy. From leaving goodies for posties to producing masks, window vinyls and supporting community groups… she is a very special human!!!
- She has fine so many things to support the nhs supplies and sacrificed hours if paid work to help other people out
Chris from The Local Pantry
- He has sourced some pretty tough to get hold of items for us & has worked incredibly hard & responsibly to encourage people to shop local.
Chris Jones
- Throughout lockdown he’s been doing live lessons most days for the pupils at his academy as well as doing challenge videos for them to do each day. My son has loved waiting on the challenges and.trying to do them each day. It has really helped during lockdown
Chrisy Chrissy
- She runs the Care home in Harrogate called The Gatehouse. Chrissy has held the staff together throughout and have supported all those that work within the home with children. The home has managed to stay COVID free from her skill and dedication to safe working. Care homes have been hit but Chrissy has done nothing but shine throughout supporting all relatives that can not come to the home to stay in constant contact. Many have had time off during this pandemic. However managers of care homes have not. She truly must be exhausted. Not to mention how amazing the team themselves have worked. All Heros in my eyes
Darryl Hall Vicar in Pateley Bridge
- His incredible dedication to the local community during the pandemic. He has worked tirelessly and even dressed as the Easter bunny to spread cheer in this unprecedented time x
Dr Ghasmi
- She’s continued to work Safely using PPE at the Harrogate Dentist treating NHS frontline staff who needed emergency dental treatment free of charge She’s treated patients from as far as Coventry
- The only dentist in the area that provided emergency dental care during the lockdown period. She provided free emergency treatment for NHS staff and other key workers and often worked unsocial hours in order to provide this care.
Dragonfly Cards, Knaresborough
- My daughters 13th birthday fell during lock down and Rachel at Dragonfly came to my rescue to help me sort some gifts out etc. She wrnt out of her way to send me pics of various gifts and really went out of her way. I will always be eternally grateful.
Emma Spalding
- Emma has set up her fitness group Emergy on-line via Facebook. Initially she asked for no renumeration, just a donation to an appeal for a family whose policeman husband/father sadly took his own life. The donations have raised over £4,600 for the fund.
- This lady Emma is absolutely amazing. ????⭐️ She is my hero ????♀️ And a star in the making ⭐️ I have cancer and I finished my chemo beginning of May. It’s been especially difficult with the covid situation and I’ve needed to get myself back fit, healthy, both physically and especially mentally well again, this is where Emma comes in to the story, by becoming my Personal Trainer and giving me back hope, strength, motivation, my positive energy and my smile back. She has been my sunshine on a rain day. A brilliant support and she really deserves this award ???? Not only has she help me, but also many others in this difficult time we have found ourselves in (covid) Emma has also managed in her busy schedule to fine the time to help raise £4625 from her online classes,during 23/3 to 31/5 for a North Yorkshire Police Family in need, whose Husband/ Daddy (Craig Ainsley) took his own life on 6/12/19 xx Emma deserve a medal ???? she is definitely a super hero ????♀️ To me and many others ????????
- Emma very kindly raised money during lockdown for a North Yorkshire police family in need by asking her clients to donate their online class money to the fundraising page. Emma doesn’t know the family which makes it even more amazing! Such a kind hearted and selfless act which she deserves to be recognised for.
- This amazing lady donated all payments for her online fitness classes to a bereaved family. Emma’s donations not only hit the target of £5k but smashed it too. A real local hero.
- Emma is my super hero ????♀️ I’ve have cancer and have been undergoing chemotherapy, finished beginning of May. It’s been especially hard through lock down, physically and mentally. This is where Emma has come into the story and has been my life line. Since finishing chemotherapy, I Made a decision to get my self fit and healthy again. Emma has been motivating me, bringing the spring back into my step, with her infectious energy, all round bubbly ness, brilliant smile and her amazing happiness. She has done wonders for my mental and physical health. Giving me back strength and hope. The encouragement she give me is smashing, thank Emma! I can’t thank her enough. She is the sunshine ☀️ on a rainy ☔️ day Not only does she bring me joy, she also bring many other joy with her online classes. She also is a super hero ????♀️ as while she has been busy keep everyone happy, fit and healthy she has managed to raise a huge amount of money, for a North Yorkshire police family in need, whose husband/daddy (Craig Ainsley) took his own life on 6/12/19. She raised a whopping £4625 from her online classes,during 23/3/20 to 31/5/20 What an amazing person. ???????? Truly deserve this award, thank you Emma for being you and doing all that you do!! Xx ????♀️????????⭐️
FiiT Like a Girl
- Fiitness Pilates for teens I love doing this class. It is good and I feel relaxed and see my friends
Fran Taylor
- Harrogate Scrubbers Fran has co-ordinated the sewers of Harrogate to make literally 1000’s of scrub gowns & caps for NHS Staff. It was a herculean effort & she should be so proud of what she has achieved.
Furnish & Fettle Ltd
- I was part of the team running the Harrogate Scrubbers. We hit a point that we had more volunteers than we could cope with and couldn’t get packs out fast enough. They stepped in, ran a hub for us and delivered the packs. Absolutely could not have done it without them. Complete heroes enabling us to provide Harrogate hospital with 2.5k scrubs.
Harrogate Brunch Club
- Jamie still managed to provide a quality service on his own even woth no staff and stock issues due to suppliers being close.
- Brunch club Working alone with long hours and limited stock
Harrogate Scrubbers
- A group of locals coming together to sew scrubs for Harrogate hospital . Such support they now sew for local hospices and GPs. This amazing group have provided vital PPE for health workers and a sense of purpose for furloughed workers, those self isolating and people who want to make a difference
Heaven & Hell Fitness Louise Roberts & Claire Eccles
- They set this up very quickly at the start of lockdown & it has kept me sane, they both are so enthusiastic & positive it’s an honor to be part of it. They work incredibly hard & so deserve some recognition
- Claire and Louise Provide a brilliant wide range of physical activity from Pilates, HIT, boxercise, yoga and Zumba through zoom! Great energy, really kept me afloat during lockdown!
- Claire and Louise who run heaven and hell fitness have worked so hard to provide on-line fitness sessions. Their timetable offers a very imaginative variety of classes 6 days a week with at least 4 classes to chose from at times to suit everyone’s commitments . They are always so cheerful and motivating keeping us all fit during lockdown. This award would reward them for all their very hard work.
- Amazing classes that kept me going through lockdown amazing teachers that are really upbeat and always smiling !
- Encouraging and supportive to many during this difficult period, allowing people to keep active to not only benefit their Physical health but their mental Health during the coronavirus period and prior.
Helen Rogers
- She has run St John Ambulance Starbeck and Knaresborough and now the fellowship part of that organisation for years and years. Has set up calls and shopping prescription collection etc for the lonely and vulnerable during lockdown.
Jane Kennerley
- Along with two of her three children, Jane has been taking part in a sponsored camp out in her garden to raise money for NHS Charities Together. They have been camping out, whatever the weather, since 4th April and have so far raised an amazing £1600. They don’t plan to stop until lockdown ends. This is alongside the fantastic charity work Jane does, raising money for Harrogate Easier Living Project through her Saints Plant Stall on St Helens Road AND she co runs the fabulous Saints Community Library, the much loved little library in the phone box on St Hildas Road. Jane is an all round lovely lady and a fabulous friend as well. She thoroughly deserves some recognition for everything she does for her community.
John Carter
- John Carter is a member of Harrogate RoundTable who, despite working full time, has pulled together the organisation’s response to the Covid crisis in Harrogate. John came up with the idea of helping those in need in the community by not only procuring food and essential item parcels but also hand delivering across the town and beyond. John is in constant contact with partner charities, such as Supporting Older People, and local businesses, including Waitrose, producing a weekly list of recipients for which he then co-ordinates dozens of volunteers as delivery drivers. For many people this would be a full time job but John stepped up to do this as a volunteer on top of his ongoing work commitments. It is John’s relentless and fastidious attention to the needs of the most vulnerable which most impress, not one to rest on his laurels he has, throughout lockdown, developed additional partners, funders, and means of delivery. Hundreds of local people have been helped by John’s endeavours without even knowing his name, such is the nature of his service to the community, a true Lockdown Local Hero.
- Leading Harrogate Round Table in assisting Supporting Older People with providing hundreds of bags of shopping to the needy during lockdown. A truly inspiring effort.
- Harrogate & District Round Table John has been working tirelessly throughout lockdown organising the distribution of hundreds of food parcels to vulnerable older people in our community. His hard work and dedication has made a huge difference to so many isolated individuals… a real local hero!
- Harrogate Round Table John has gone above and beyond to organise food parcels to local elderly and in need.
Julie Mills
- Co ordinating my and others donations of hand creams to the NHS.
- Julie set up a Facebook group to support key workers and my word has she supported!! I work for a care setting and she has been incredibly generous, not only with treats, like cakes and sweets, but PPE too!! We\’ve managed to get facemasks, visors, and even wash bags from her. She\’s brought this community together by helping us who need it. She\’s an incredible woman who definitely deserves this award!
- For getting PPE supplies to every key worker who needed it
- All the supplies and support she has given to the local NHS and key workers
- Setting up a Facebook group to help the key workers of Harrogate. Making sure they have there essential foods and treats for there work place.
- Together with the group supporting keyworkers. They have help myself and fellow colleagues in many ways. If she is unable to help herself so will find out who can. She and the team have help everyone in the local area.
- Julie has an idea at the start of lockdown to help supply ppe and items to local nhs and businesses. She assembled a team who work tirelessly collecting, raffling and delivering items to help people from masks to hampers. She has raised over £4000 to help the people of Harrogate
K’rescue Knaresborough
- Running on donations to keep the rescue centre open I imagine must be difficult when you can’t have visitors. Like zoos have been affected, I know K’rescue have also had to struggle on & feed the animals in the centre off their own back. Places like this dont get a holiday or a break or allowed to stop during a pandemic or animals suffer.
Karen Allen
- Throughtout lockdown she has been able to teach her singamajigs and Create classes online. To help children to be able to connect and socialise with other children they would normally see in pre – school.
Knaresborough Connectors
- An amazing team who have kept people going and started to establish a food bank for Knaresborough while supporting those who have struggled throughout this period.
Knaresborough Delivers
- Have worked tirelessly to help the people of Knaresborough during lockdown and support the independent shops who otherwise may not have had an online presence. A real lifeline to many, especially in the early days as they managed to get things in place so quickly, and the Sunday Roast delivery is amazing.
- Knaresborough delivers has been fabulous…. amazing offering support and an outlet for businesses and bringing the community together! Well done
Kumon
- Both my kids are studying maths with kummon and kummon has def a hero for us in helping my kids continue with their learning. David and his team has been great help to the kids.
Lauren Rogerson & Rachael Bolton
- Because they have run the toy library in a new innovative way to enable families to access “new” toys and keep little ones entertained, offering a delivery service.
Lizzie Sykes
- Lizzie is my daughters new OT at hospital, she called for a telephone review and has sent us lots of helpful resources to try at home to help her fine motor skills including a handiwriter. My daughter cannot hold a pencil well but really wants write. She has made referrals to other teams that we’ve asked for several times before but has never actually happened, we’re now been accepted to the child disability team who are able to help with child incontinence. Thank you Lizzie for your support.
Matt Pullan
- For dancing 12 hours straight and setting up a charity fundraiser for Harrogate theatre and raising money to keep the arts alive.
- For keeping the children entertained but at the same time raising lots of money for Harrogate Theatre. Matt is providing doorstep appearances but only asking for donations to Harrogate Theatre’s emergency appeal. How amazing is that?!
- Dance Matt For giving up his time to host loads of virtual mini discos and doing danceathons to raise vital funds for Harrogate Theatre
- Dance Matt Mini discos throughout lockdown and danceathons to help raise money for Harrogate Theatre
- Dance Matt Raising money for the Harrogate theatre doing a dance a ton for 12 hours raising more than £1000 Well done!!
Michael Schofield
- Setting up a new local business in lockdown was brave but he has provided our local community with a fantastic new fruit and veg business. He works tirelessly and delivers locally as well as always being cheery. This is what our community has needed for some time now and on top of that the strawberries are amazing!!!!
Michelle Hayes and the Ressurrected Bites team
- This group of local volunteers have worked so very hard at making and delivering food to the most vulnerable and those who are shielding/isolating. The food parcels are free and Michelle has worked around the clock feeding thousands of people in Harrogate.
- Resurrected bites Continued to make lovely meals from the food donations gifted by local business to ensure the elderly and vulnerable still received a decent meal
- Resurrected Bites Team Providing free food parcels for those in need during lockdown. Intercepting waste, & saving food that would otherwise have been taken to the landfill. Great relationships with many other charities. Managing a great team of volunteers.
Military 1st Fitness
- They have been undertaking online fitness classes twice a day all through lockdown FREE OF CHARGE and have helped me with my fitness enormously. They are motivating and inspiring and I can’t thank them enough. Well done to Jimmy Proffitt and Paul Garden – they havent missed a single day of training for everyone and are definitely Lockdown Local Heroes.
- Jimmy and Paul have put so much work and personal effort into their online fitness sessions to get us motivated during this time. They somehow make everything seem ‘normal’ and keep our spirits up. The classes are regular, lots of them and choices on what you want to do. Sometimes not fir the faint-hearted! Many thanks Jimmy and Paul – you are awesome
Mud and Puddles
- Providing zoom sessions for parents and children.
Neil Leonard
- Worked tirelessly to make sure all orders delivered same day and always with a smile
Nina Meads
- She has been amazing running live exercise classes everyday, working from herself with two children too can’t be easy! She is so positive and motivating. She deserves some thank you love.
Painting Pots/ Laura Dudley
- Has gone above and beyond to provide for the community to bring joy to people in lockdown and she deserves to win
- Laura has worked really hard on her hearts for heroes project.. she was desperate to do something to give back and spent many hours organising the kits so people could paint them up (giving them something to do) and then writing the tags etc. She really cares about making people smile.
- Did an amazing job not only producing hearts for hearts for hero’s but also raising money for NHS workers
- Laura has done so much for so many people since lockdown through her deliveries and takeaway sets; even though we can’t paint at the shop she has done so much to keep people occupied x
- We quite literally would of been lost without her.and her crafting kits. Excellent job done.
Phoebe (10) and Hermione (7) Smith For raising over £500 for HELP Harrogate by designing a range of charity merchandise
Rascals Entertainment
- Their business had to completely stop as no face to face parties but they adapted! Every Saturday they had a mini disco with different themes each week. They also ran a family quiz. At Easter they dressed as the Easter bunny and toured the streets waving at kids – amazing!
Roots and Fruits
- You have provided so much in the past months to the whole community. Food deliveries for those who couldn’t get out, prioritising the vulnerable and key workers. And keeping everyone up to date every step of the way. Such a fantastic team – you have hearts of gold and deserve to be acknowledged.
- Provided help, fruit and veg plus general essentials to vulnerable and elderly and have worked tirelessly to keep food on our plates. Also donating fruit to nhs paramedics healthcare workers. Worked with council to get newspapers to elderly and vulnerable. Teams of volunteers also helping to get food to people.
Sid Lovatt
- Sid has been making face visors using his 3D printer for the hospital, care homes and loads more places. Having made over 2100 face shields he has definitely played his part in the local fight against COVID and I feel like this deserves a huge
- 3D printing masks for key workers for no profit
- Sid has been making visors for the NHS and anyone else locally who needs them. He’s coordinated a fund for people to donate to, and has been doing all of this from home using his 3d printer.
- Sid is amazing and has given up so much time to help others during lockdown.
- For the amazing 3D printing of safety masks in lock down
Simon Cotton Fat Badger
- Where do you begin?? If there was an official face of Harrogate then Simon would be it. What he has done for the NHS Nightingale is off the scale! In addition to that going to the poshest take away service overnight is creative genius.
Stacey Brookes
- She has gone above and beyond to keep her shop open and stocked during Covid also doing deliveries working all hours she deserves a medal
- Stacey Brookes at Dales Market Corner Stacey has just been excellent hero is the only word for it! Pateley wouldn’t have been same without her!
Stacey J Evans Photography Doorstep Portraits Project
- The lovely Stacey generously gave her time to Capture memories for families in lockdown, and helped raise a lot of money for charity In the process. From a personal perspective, Stacey provided us something we thought we’d never have the opportunity of during lockdown: a family photo with our first newborn who arrived on 31st March. Stacey Provided us , and lots of other people in the community, with the opportunity to capture precious moments like these therefore in my eyes she is a Lockdown local hero
- A great idea, where local photographers, whose entire industry had been bought to a stand still use their time and skills to raise over £7k for local charity and also made captured special memories for lots of children.
Stomp
- Because they’ve gone that extra mile delivering shoes to children
Susan Little
- Covid FB group Coordinating people to address local needs – over £12k raised for charity too
- Covid FB group Amazing Facebook group to coordinate local volunteers to help those in need.
- Covid FB group The speed in which this group was formed and the care and tireless generosity shown has been outstanding. They should be so proud of themselves, they have helped so many.
- Susie found the Covid Co-operation page on Facebook and has selflessly given her time, energy and care to ensuring the people of the district go without nothing regardless of their circumstances. Totally inspiring and the true epitome of an angel.
- Days into the pandemic/ lockdown she set up and managed Facebook group, Covid Co-operation Harrogate. Which rapidly grew to 10k members. She took a full time role in matching people with vulnerable locals and helped everyone she physically could while promoting and enabling others to do the same. A selfless, admirable, kind, caring lady who deserves all the thanks and recognition from our community.
- For setting up a help group on Facebook and arranging help for the residents of Harrogate.
- Over and above the call of duty for Covid Co-operation.
- She started the group Covid Co-operation Harrogate on Facebook and I think this group has done amazing things for the community helping vulnerable people
- Susie, opened COVID cooperation, Harrogate. To help those in the area get the help and support they really need during this awful pandemic. Following to open shielders support, aimed at those shielding, for full support & a safe place to be able to seek help. Without Susie & her team a lot of people would have potentially suffered and struggled. Susie is a true hero and deserves this more than anyone I know.
- Covid cooperation website and loads of fundraising
- Suzie started a help group in Harrogate for Covid 19 and those struggling. She set it up within days of the crisis, and along with a team of people…all volunteers, she helps with food, shopping trips, prescriptions, food parcels those in serious need, clothing if needed and the list is endless. She deliverys meals, essentials, and a whole heap of things. She then set up a shielders support group to help those isolated be able to keep in touch with likeminded people in same situation and now has started the process of apply for charity status on a new venture. She is a remarkable person, not withstanding that this has all been achieved since March. She has made Harrogate a better place for sure!
The Gatehouse Residential Care Home
- The staff team at The Gatehouse have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to care for the residents and ensure they are happy and healthy. Families and friends have not been able to visit in person so the staff have enabled video calls and organised private events within the home (e.g. VE Day celebrations, Queens Birthday & simple BBQ’s and Bingo in the garden!). The home has remained free of COVID-19 throughout due to the selfless behaviour of the staff team who have followed government guidelines to protect themselves and those they care for from the virus. They are a fantastic team who deserve recognition for their efforts.
The Kitchen Cafe, Otley Road
- For being truly fabulous, offering a delivery service almost straight away. High quality products, local produce, amazing customer service and the personal touch. Really valued them opening and they deserve recognition for adapting in these times.
The Morland Family
- Catherine has been busy baking for keyworkers and the family have done fundraisers through a run. They have been inspiring.
The Weekend Factory / Mrs Smith
- We absolutely love the idea and ethos of what the Weekend Factory has created. It helped us to celebrate birthdays with something really unique and special at this really hard time. We kind of hope the weekend factory continues after lockdown!!! Thank you xxx
Tim Broad
- It maybe his job as headteacher to lead a school but he has gone above and beyond helping staff and children.
Victoria Smith Dunn
- She is such a caring figure for the Oatlands community and deserves to be recognised
- Without Vics organisational skills and genuine caring, the Oatlands area would be a very lonely place. She has thought about everyone and organised doorstep events to keep the community in contact from a safe distance, supporting the vulnerable when they needed it, giving up her own time willingly for others.
- For all her fabulous work within the community, all of which is voluntary and unpaid. She gives so much and it does not go unnoticed.
- She’s done lots for the local community during lockdown. Food parcels and volunteering
- She does so much for the community and is so friendly and has so much energy.
- She has done tireless work for the local community
- This amazing lady and MyLifePool have helped me continue to donate during this time, collecting items from me and many others, to give to those in need. She has been selfless and worked tireleslly to keep the MLP members in touch and anjoying being members. Otalands community centre has had so much support from her throughout this. She is definitely a hero all the time, even in lockdown.
Western Primary School
- The school reopened on 1st June for reception children/year 1 and then year 6. They were open throughout for keyworker children, adapting to work at a hub based at a different school. They have gone over and above to make the transition back flawless. From the logistical organisation of staggered drop offs and separate bubbles, to the way they’ve welcomed the children back with open arms. The teachers were keen to ensure the children had emotional support and put their well-being first after what has been a challenging few months for small people, some more so than others. They’ve kept safety paramount, but ensured quality of care is not compromised. A quote which stuck out from the return to school letter from reception was that as parents we should not worry that the staff would be physically distant from the children and they would “continue to comfort them as they would normally do”. Mr Broad (headmaster) has been a constant reassurance through lockdown with regular updates and explanations as to how things would be managed. The school also continue to provide care and support to those who haven’t returned to school, and the keyworker children. I have spoken to several friends with children at other schools and Western have been far more open, reassuring and positive about reopening than any other.
Woodlands Ward
- All of woodlands ward have been keeping the children and their families calm when having to visit or stay on the children’s ward