Big Rise In Recipients Of Mayor’s Awards For Community Service

Published on: 15 May, 2021
Updated on: 19 May, 2021

By David Rose

There was a significant rise in the number of people receiving the Mayor of Guildford’s awards for their service in their communities this year.

More than 60 residents and groups have been recognised in the 2021 awards for making a real difference, especially during the pandemic.

Recipients are those who Guildford Borough Council recognises as improving the lives of others, fostering good relationships and encouraging positive community spirit.

This year’s awards event, which was broadcast on the council’s YouTube channel on Monday evening, May 10, also included a new Community Heroes award to celebrate groups whose activities have supported residents affected by Coronavirus.

It can be watched again by clicking here.

Some of the many recipients of the 2021 Mayor of Guildford’s awards for services in their communities. Clockwise from top right: Khallid Bhatti of Ahmaddiya Muslim Association (Guildford branch), Liam Covey, Lisa Ryan, Nick and Charlotte Wyschna, Sasja McCann, and Franco and his team from Guildford’s Positano restaurant.

The full list of winners:

Mayor’s Award for Service to the Community – groups:

The Community Angels Project, run by Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy, which offers support to vulnerable people to reconnect with their community and saw a 300% increase in demand for their services during the pandemic.

Kelvin Hayes and the team of volunteer drivers for Horsley Community Bus, who have provided transport to elderly residents for shopping trips, medical appointments and excursions for over a decade.

Mediation Surrey is a charity that provides free mediation services for families and people experiencing anti-social behaviour – all 100 of its mediators are volunteers and adapted overnight to providing online services during the pandemic.

Mayor’s Award for Service to the Community – individuals:

Stuart Alexander, a passionate supporter of Guildford’s independent shops, and a volunteer for Guildford Action which provides shelter for homeless people.

Julie Barham, the Peaslake correspondent for Peaslake Community Council who has supported her community for over 40 years.

Nathan Brooker, a vital member of Voluntary Action South West Surrey’s Welcome to Volunteering project which encourages people to get involved in volunteering.

Liam Covey, a volunteer gardener and handyman at The Spike Heritage Centre in Guildford.

Chris Dick, who has written about his own community of Effingham for The Guildford Dragon NEWS for over five years.

Carol Dunnett, recently retired chief officer of Voluntary Action South West Surrey, who after more than a decade in the role has seen her help and support hundreds of voluntary groups and charities in the region.

Debbie Foster, who has organised volunteers and delivered prescriptions and food parcels in Worplesdon during the pandemic, as well being a long-term member of Fairlands Players theatre company and Fairlands brownies.

Cheryl Hankin, who launched a Facebook page to encourage local residents to recycle more rubbish – and organises community litter picks to raise money for the Count the Kicks miscarriage and premature birth charity.

Teresa Male, one of Voluntary Action South West Surrey’s own volunteers, who helps at its volunteer centre in Castle Street and people in her community.

Ann Mather, the founder of the North Guildford Food Bank, who continues to volunteer there regularly and also works with Christians Against Poverty to help people struggling with financial problems.

Paul Newman, who undertakes sponsored runs to raise money to buy musical instruments for a new youth marching brass band. In the last year he has funded more than 40 instruments.

Ian Rose, a trustee of Normandy Village Hall, who helps the hall stay open for its community seven days a week, and was previously the chairman of the trustees of the hall.

Sharmila Seeboruth, a volunteer for Voluntary Action South West Surrey’s Welcome to Volunteering project, who also volunteers for the Watts Gallery Artists’ Village in Compton, the Space to Grow community garden in Farnham, and learning disabilities charity Dimensions UK.

David Sindall, who has volunteered for over nine years at Headway Surrey, the Stoughton charity which supports individuals and families with brain injuries. He also volunteers with Voluntary Action South West Surrey’s Welcome Buddies project.

Marion Thompson, who has volunteered for three local charities, Guildford Action, The Canterbury Care Centre and Voluntary Action South West Surrey, for almost 10 years.

Community Heroes – groups:

Ahmadiyya Muslim Association (Guildford Branch), who provided 1,600 cooked meals to the Royal Surrey County Hospital, as well as providing meals and support for shielding residents, donations to food banks and making PPE for local hospitals and schools.

Ash, Ash Vale and Ash Green Coronavirus Support Group, which supported vulnerable people with shopping, prescriptions, companionship and information, as well as delivering food parcels and making PPE for their local community.

Caper & Berry, who provided almost 10,000 meals for key workers and vulnerable residents including the Royal Surrey County Hospital and the Guildford Nuffield Centre.

Foodwise TLC, who delivered more than 30,000 meals to families at risk of food insecurity, and provided free cooking lessons to local residents.

Guildford Philanthropy, who worked with Foodwise TLC, supported local charities including Guildford Action, the North Guildford Food Bank, The Matrix Trust and The Big Leaf Foundation, provided laptop computers for digitally disadvantaged children to continue their online studies, and awarded 13 grants totalling £125,686.

Mandira’s Kitchen, which provided 250 meals to distribute to vulnerable families over the 2020 Christmas holidays.

Positano restaurant, which delivered 250 freshly-cooked meals to local residents during lockdown.

Puttenham Buddies Group, who supported local elderly and vulnerable people in their village from the start of lockdown.

Ripley Corona Support Network, which supported elderly and vulnerable people in Ripley with shopping, prescription collections, hot meals, a hardship fund and community helpline.

St Saviour’s Church, whose ‘Meals For You’ are made in the kitchen at the church in Woodbridge Road, Guildford, for delivery to local residents.

Send Community Aid, which coordinated 130 volunteers to support local people with shopping, prescriptions, dog walking, a telephone helpline, Facebook group and networking with other local community groups.

Kathyrn Carr’s Send Scrubs Hub, which made washable uniforms and scrub bags for local NHS and Care Home staff.

Unigold 2000 Ltd, which donated 50 laptop computers to Kings College in Park Barn, to help digitally disadvantaged pupils continue their online studies.

The staff of Watts Gallery Artists Village, who provided opportunities for Voluntary Action’s Welcome to Volunteering volunteers to join them during 2020 and made them feel part of the team.

Community Heroes – individuals:

Thomas George of Rock Choir has maintained regular choir rehearsals as well as supporting Guildford Fringe Festival events, hosted quizzes, cooking sessions and even a Christmas Day sing-along session for isolated or lonely people.

Beccy Matthews has been offering free online fitness classes for cancer patients during lockdown. She tailors the classes so that everyone can take part, whatever their health and level of treatment.

Jennifer Ashwood, part of Riverside’s Homeless Outreach and Support Team who helped provide accommodation for every local homeless person, plus regular food parcels, mobile phones, laundry, prescriptions, clothing and moral support.

Madeline Baker, who supported her fellow care home residents and day centre friends despite having to shield for several months herself, including shopping trips and errands.

Joan Barnett, who has volunteered for Sight for Surrey for 16 years and took on extra clients during the pandemic.

Shelina and Ian Blinkhorn, of East Horsley Post Office and General Store, who have organised deliveries to vulnerable residents and supported their local community throughout the pandemic.

Angela Breen, manager of The Four Seasons Trust care home, who supports her residents 24 hours a day and worked throughout the Christmas holidays when other staff had to self-isolate.

Sophie Brown, who supported her community in Normandy by distributing information leaflets and managing the local food bank. She has also volunteered for The Rainbow Trust, Age UK, and Guildford Street Angels, as well as raising money for charities in Kenya and Tanzania.

Bill and Jenny Cole, who made more than 2,800 reusable face masks for residents in Ash and donated all proceeds to Ash United Football Club.

Charlotte Fraser, who worked with Foodwise TLC to make up to 400 meals every week for vulnerable families.

Paul Galley, who has been helping local residents stay fit and active during lockdown by organising a free running club through his Fitstuff running shop in Guildford and sponsoring local events.

Helen Garood, a pharmacist who has been instrumental in setting up the G Live and Cranleigh vaccine centres, as well as supporting neighbours during lockdown and bad weather.

Matt and Marta Gaskin, who continued to provide a free Christmas lunch to hundreds of local elderly, vulnerable and lonely people during lockdown, including organising delivery.

Kirstie Jones, a mental health social worker, who continued to work with some of the most vulnerable people in the Guildford community during the pandemic.

Jasmine Kapoor, who provided food parcels to isolated students and families during lockdown.

Sophie Lee, who created colourful ‘lockdown bags’ for residents in Peaslake, Shere and Gomshall, including a sudoku book, hand sanitiser, pen, packet of biscuits, packet of sweets and information on local support available.

Lisa Ryan and Sasja McCann, who set up the Albury Coronavirus Helpline, distributed information leaflets around their village and coordinated a team of volunteers to help with food parcels, prescriptions and community transport.

Dr Thumuluru Kavitha Madhuri, who works for the Gynae-oncology Research and Clinical Excellence charity at Guildford’s Nuffield Hospital, and has voluntarily helped their fundraising efforts with sponsored challenges and selling Christmas cards, and co-ordinated the charity’s response to Coronavirus.

Jan Messinger, a Worplesdon Parish Councillor, trustee of the Sime Gallery and Worplesdon correspondent for The Guildford Dragon NEWS, who delivered prescription medicine to local residents through the first lockdown.

Carla Morson, founder of the Ash, Ash Vale and Ash Green Coronavirus Support Group, which supported vulnerable people with shopping, prescriptions, companionship and information, as well as delivering food parcels and making PPE for their local community.

Trevor Osborn, who continued to support his community and colleagues by working in his local branch of Tesco despite being advised to shield.

Ketan Patel of Riverside Housing Association, who helped to make Guildford’s Number Five night shelter Covid-secure while adapting to its new 24/7 service to support homeless people and provide specialist help to get people back on their feet.

Jenni Pettit, whose West Horsley shop became a community hub during lockdown, and provided deliveries to residents who were housebound or vulnerable.

Michelle Presley, who at the start of lockdown set up a Facebook page to help local residents with vital information and support, including dog walking services, food parcels and prescription delivery.

Roshini, Ram and Mitthra Rammeash, whose East Horsley shop became a hub for voluntary work during the pandemic, collecting prescription medicines and delivering shopping to vulnerable residents.

Alex Sanderson, who has coordinated food parcels, delivered shopping and prescription medicines, provided free childcare and organised online support meetings during the pandemic, as well as continuing to edit her parish magazine.

Emma Terry, who created a database of Compton residents in need of support, co-ordinated volunteers and worked with her parish council, other community groups and local food banks to provide support.

Tamera White, who has co-ordinated Bramley’s St Catherine’s School’s donations to The Hive at the Park Barn Centre to provide pre-loved items and Christmas boxes for less advantaged families.

Jane and David Williams, who organise daily litter picks in Peaslake.

Nick and Charlotte Wyschna, who created and provided activity packs during lockdown, which Guildford Borough Council’s Community Wellbeing Team distributed to families.

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