SAMARITANS COMMUNITY AWARDS New for 2007
THE AWARDS acknowledge the wide number of people from all ages and all walks of life who contribute to the local community, going above and beyond the call of duty, making a real difference to the lives of those around them.
The Award ceremony took place at Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking
on Tuesday 24th July 2007 in the evening
AWARD WINNERS - 2007
Award Winners 2007 (from left to right)
Back Row: Pat Plant, Ruth Shepperd, Jenny Moore (B@attitudes), Tom Andrews, Edith Layng and Blenheim High School (front row Debbie Deal and Alex Sledzik)
GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR AWARD, sponsored by PRIORITY LEGAL RECRUITMENT
Alex Sledzik of Oxshott
Nominated by Lauri Kook-Clark of Fetcham
The winner of the Good Samaritan of the Year award – sponsored by Priority Legal Recruitment, has been chosen from all the nominations submitted for all the Community ‘Awards categories and is the personal selection of the director of our local Samaritans branch, Sheila Souchard.
This very special award goes to a very special young man.
Alex Sledzik, was adopted from a Ukrainian orphanage when he was just 3. He has one leg slightly shorter than the other and it doesn’t work as well as it might, but after treatment, including surgery, he manages to get around and doesn’t let it slow him down.
He first came to the attention of his school teacher and nominator, Lauri Kook-Clark, on his first day at school who knew immediately that he was a very special little boy.
Despite learning difficulties that affect his literacy, maths and frustration levels, Alex is clever and caring. He decided himself that he wanted to raise £2,500 for the Ukrainian orphanage to pay for indoor play and therapy equipment.
In the event, through a sponsored fun run called Go Alex where he ran around an Olympic size track, sold T-shirts, and also raised funds with a jewellery sale, he succeeded in raising £10,000. An extraordinary total and a marvellous gift for the orphanage when Alex and his family return there this year
As Laura Kook-Clark says, Alex is a special fundraiser and a very special little boy.
YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD sponsored by MILNERS
Tom Andrews of Ashtead
Nominated by Elaine Lush of Mid Holmwood
The Young Person of the Year, sponsored by Milners, has been chosen from nominations received for people under the age of 18 who were not specifically entered for another award category.
The winner is Tom Andrews, nominated by Elaine Lush, secretary of the Leatherhead Swan Club. The Leatherhead Swans meet every Tuesday at the Leatherhead Leisure centre where they provide recreation, education, sport and other leisure activities for disabled people in Surrey.
Elaine first met Tom when he volunteered to help as part of his Duke of Edinburgh’s award. He would socialise with disabled members and assist them on a 1–1 basis in the swimming pool. Tom is a good swimmer and became a popular and helpful addition to the club and took the time to build the swimmers’ confidence.
Although Tom completed his Duke of Edinburgh Award last summer he has continued to attend Club evenings ever since.
Tom impressed the panel with the sincerity of his commitment to the club and, most of all, to each of the club members whom he so ably and so willingly helps and gives so much of his time.
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD sponsored by Leatherhead Motor Company
Edith Layng of Chessington
Nominated by Margery Gallagher of Stoke D’Abernon with support from Mrs Brock
The Citizen of the Year award is chosen from nominations received for people aged over 18 who have not been specifically entered for any other category.
This year the winner is Mrs Edith Layng of Chessington whose nomination by Margery Gallagher of Stoke D’Abernon has been enthusiastically supported by Mrs Brock.
Edith has spent almost a lifetime helping others. Even before she retired, she used to give comfort, advice and practical help to people in need but now that she is retired she devotes much of her time and energy to Chessington & Hook Voluntary Care Scheme and to a friend whose sons have been diagnosed with a condition leading to blindness.
In the Voluntary Care Scheme, Edith visits the elderly and disabled and encourages them to talk about their difficulties and concerns. She also helps them maintain their independence by assisting with transport, shopping and GP visits.
Edith has been a tower of strength to her friend whom she supported through the years following the diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa in both her sons. She encouraged and helped her raise funds towards research into this little known condition and together they have made and sold greetings cards that have raised £20,000 over five years. They also sell at car boot sales, and arrange an annual golf tournament.
These fundraising efforts have not been in vain. Research by Moorfields Hospital may benefit other people in the future.
Edith Layng receives this award in recognition of her many years of selfless support for others. It is not hard to imagine how much pleasure and comfort her help, friendship and resourcefulness have brought to so many.
AGAINST ALL ODDS AWARD sponsored by Cheval Court Stud
Debbie Deal of West Ewell
Nominated by Peter Barham of Conquest Art, Ewell
The Against All Odds Award, sponsored by Cheval Court Stud, is a special category for people who have found the strength and generosity of spirit to think of others despite their own personal hardships and difficulties.
The very deserving winner of this award is Debbie Deal who was nominated by Peter Barham of Conquest Art.
Debbie used to be a scout leader who enjoyed the outdoor life but she is now almost totally wheelchair bound. In deep depression she joined Conquest Art, a charity that teaches disabled people to develop their creativity. After a while, Debbie started producing the most wonderful pictures.
Debbie is now an inspiration to other disabled people and encourages them to enjoy life to the full. She is on the management committee of Conquest Art and works hard to organise events to help raise money so that this life-changing charity can continue its work.
GOOD NEIGHBOUR AWARD sponsored by Corporate Risk Associates Ltd
Pat Plant of Cobham
Nominated by Katrina Moss of Cobham
The Good Neighbour Award, sponsored by Corporate Risk Associates, is the category that recognises the value of friendship and support to the everyday quality of life for individuals and to the larger community.
The award goes to Pat Plant of Cobham who exemplifies how kindness and neighbourliness can transform the lives of others. She was nominated by neighbour, Katrina Moss, who included the following story in her nomination:
“When I first met Pat I had just come out of the psychiatric hospital having had a breakdown and she became my friend. She saw me every week without fail for over 18 months, helping me with getting back to normal, cleaning the house and having someone to talk through my illness and the journey I was on. She never judged me and was and still is today one of the most generous people I have ever met.”
Pat has lived in Cobham for more than 20 years and has been an exceptional neighbour all that time. She looks after people’s homes when they are away, has done shopping, visits neighbours in hospital, takes round flower and presents and uses her house to invite those who are often on their own.
She started Platinum, a tea-party which holds 4-5 events a year, where dozens of elderly people are picked up, entertained and given tea and cakes.
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by CSL Partnership
Be@ttitude, Leatherhead
Nominated by Katrina Moss of Cobham
Companies are increasingly aware of their role in the community and are often benefactors of local charities. Indeed, we are fortunate to have financial support from several influential companies in the area for this award scheme. However, this year the winner of the Business of the Year award goes to a small company that started out with the sole purpose of helping others.
Be@ttitude is a shop in Leatherhead that was started by Jenny Moore and Ruth Noble on a voluntary basis as a way of helping less well-off families in the North Leatherhead area. They sell good quality second-hand children’s clothes at very low prices. They provide a café for mothers who often have no support network or families to help them, together with a play area for their children. Be@ttitude has become a meeting place where mothers and some teenagers can talk about their problems with people who give them the time and the space. Ruth and Jenny get involved with the families who use the shop, often visiting them at home and helping in many other ways.
They have recently raised a significant amount of money to buy a mobile holiday home on the south Coast that, for a very small fee, any family can use to get a much-needed break. Their dedication to the families in North Leatherhead is unquestionable.
SCHOOL OF THE YEAR sponsored by Cargill
Blenheim High School, Epsom
Nominated by Pauline Gabriel of Epsom
The School of the Year award recognises the contribution that schools can make to community life and also their important role in preparing our young people to be caring and useful future citizens.
The award goes to Blenheim High School for its commitment to both of these elements.
Among its student initiatives, it arranges for pupils to visit Appleby House, a care home for older people including those with a mental frailty, to entertain residents. Once a year the timetable is suspended to allow all year groups to consider issues involved in being a good citizen. Activities are arranged for younger children including presentations by scientists, maths puzzle days and sports events and the school also funds video conferencing facilities to link to some primary schools.
To benefit the wider community, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) courses are held at the school free of charge; the school holds a number of free community evening lectures and also hosts the Surrey Parenting Group parenting classes.
The Valley Trust counselling service operates at the school to support the community and students who need to talk through problems with a qualified professional