West Lindsey District Council was delighted to recognise residents for their outstanding contribution to their local community. Town and parish councillors, volunteers and community groups were invited to Hemswell Court, Hemswell to celebrate the 2018 Community Awards.
The District Champion of the Year Award was won by Lizzie Jordan of Gainsborough. Presenting the award Councillor David Cotton said: “For over ten years Lizzie has gone into schools and shared her story of living with HIV with children and young people to educate them about healthy relationships and keeping themselves well and safe. She has also been an ambassador for national HIV campaigns for Terrence Higgins Trust, NAM and Saving Lives and is one of three patient voices on the NHS England HIV clinical reference group.
“She volunteers her time as a peer mentor to other people living in the county and further afield who are also living with HIV, and writes on an award winning blog about living with HIV.”
Lizzie said: “I felt really honoured and very shocked. This is a huge privilege. I am really proud of where I come from and to talk about my situation is a major honour to help people understand what happens when people live with HIV as not many people talk about it.
“It’s also important to break down perceptions that it is not about people who take drugs. People want to hear what it is like for someone living with HIV and speaking to young people is important. They could hear from a nurse practitioner or a teacher but it’s more personal to hear from someone who has HIV and they are more inclined to ask questions.”
Paul Bagshaw of Gainsborough scooped the Citizen of the Year Award. Councillor David Cotton said: “Paul Bagshaw has worked tirelessly over the last few years with raising money to help buy new bikes and accessories for disadvantaged children within West Lindsey. This year alone he has raised enough money to purchase over 90 bikes.
“He has also competed in triathlons and a marathon to raise money for Alzheimer’s research and Cancer research and helped others in raising money for the same charities, for instance raising over £1,200 at a raffle.”
The West Lindsey Dementia Support Group scooped Community Group of the Year. Mavis Wharton and Jean Male founded the group 18 years ago. They work together as a team for the benefit of people in this area who are affected with dementia as well as their carers.
The group meet every month in both Gainsborough and Market Rasen, often having 30 plus people attending. They chat to the group and occasionally organise coach trips to garden centres or stately homes, or invite people to entertain the group, whether they are singers, musicians or someone with a particular skill or expertise.
Winners
- District Champion of the Year 2018
Lizzie Jordan - Citizen of the Year 2018
Paul Bagshaw - Young Citizen of the Year 2018
Alissa Stevens - Volunteer of the Year 2018
Norman Palmer - Parish/Town Councillor of the Year 2018
Brattleby Parish Council/Mike Spencer - Community Group of the Year 2018
West Lindsey Dementia Support Group - Parish/Town Council of the Year 2018
Caistor Town Council/Mayor of Caistor, Cllr Alan Somerscales - Chairman of the Council’s Special Award 2018
David and Louis King
Runners-up
- Volunteer of the Year 2018
Mr Michael Galligan - Parish/Town Councillor of the Year 2018
Cllr James (Jim) Cousins - Young Citizen of the Year 2018
Callum Smith - Community Group of the Year 2018
Buddies Dementia Care Café
The Keelby Luncheon Club Volunteers