#Love Cramlington Awards 2021

The community spirit of Cramlington was highlighted today when Cramlington Town Council held their #Love Cramlington Awards 2021 ceremony.

At the end of the proceedings and via video, Councillor Helen Morris, Chair of Cramlington Town Council Community and Youth Committee, announced that the Overall Champions were the Cramlington Knit and Knatter group.

This bubbly and vibrant group provides a great social aspect to the lives of their members but they also provide much-needed items to many beneficiaries. They provide baby hats and cardigans for Cramlington maternity unit. They also produce larger blankets for the Freeman Hospital cancer unit. Every Christmas they make toys for the Salvation Army children appeal. Hundreds of knitted poppies are also produced every year. The results of their knitting and nattering brings lots of pleasure to those who make and those who receive.

Presenting the award to the group, Nick Furno from Draegar commented that it had been a very uplifting experience to listen to all the examples of community service that were evident during the awards ceremony.

Pictured: Nick Furno and members of the Knit and Knatter Group

 

 

The Citizen of the Year trophy was awarded by Council Operations Manager Daryl Wood and Cllr Anne Mitcheson alongside by Adam Crampsie, CEO of Mental Health Concern.

Adam said: “Mental Health Concern are proud to be connected with the Love Cramlington Awards. We deliver mental health services across the Cramlington community and know that the people and community groups of Cramlington really enhance our services, making sure no one is struggling alone. It’s great that the Town Council is recognising the town’s residents in this way.”

Runners up were Hazel Layborne, a retired practice nurse who volunteers for three charities and Romana Moffatt who ran 10k a day, every day, during March to raise for local charity Dogs First.

The winner was Jane Gray, who is a major force at Cramlington Community Tennis Programme. She manages EVERYTHING behind the scenes and without her the club would not exist. What isn’t known by everyone is that she has been left partially paralysed following surgery but has continued to be the chairperson of the Programme. Despite her illness she has continued to run the club, look for funding streams, and kept it afloat during the COVID pandemic.

 

Pictured: The presentation of the Citizen of The Year award

 

 

The Young Citizen of the Year trophy was presented by Joyce Docherty from The Hope Centre.

Runners up were Ella Hurst who, during the pandemic, contacted all the residents in her street and is still keeping her neighbours connected and siblings Jacob and Layla McLaughlin who are youngsters dedicated to looking after the environment, even at their tender ages.

The winner was Katie Jane Heathcote who is a Royal British Legion Youth Member and has demonstrated great commitment to the organisation.

Pictured: The presentation of the Young Citizen of the Year award.

 

 

The Sports Award was presented by Cllr Pat Heard and Lee Paris from Active Northumberland.

Runners-up were inspirational fitness instructor Lisa Morley and Cramlington Community Tennis Programme which provides affordable and high-quality tennis coaching in the centre of Cramlington.

The winner was Trevor Todd who has given a lifetime of service to the sporting community of Cramlington. He has been involved with Cramlington Juniors, Cramlington Town now Cramlington United. Having turned 70 he’s now taken charge of a brand-new team of 7 year-olds!

Pictured: The presentation of the Sports Award

 

The Youth Sports Award was presented by Councillor Christine Dunbar and Lee Paris from Active Northumberland.

Runner-up were Cramlington Town Football Club, particularly the team who work tirelessly behind the scenes to help the club be such a success and Rocket Tots who offer fun sessions designed to help children learn to play a variety of sports led by coaches from Cramlington Rockets rugby league football club.

The award went to Moto X enthusiast Cameron Coxon who, while being very grateful for the support his family give him, does his utmost to raise funds himself in this sport at which he has already had considerable success having come third in the Northeast League.

Pictured: The presentation of the Youth Sports Award

 

 

 

The Green Cramlington Award was presented by Cllr Mark Swinburn and Thom Bradley from Blyth CVA.

Runners-up were Dr Elaine Winkley, a consultant anaesthetist with the Northumbria Trust based at NSECH who has a passion for sustainability and Cramlington Red Squirrel Group who work hard to protect the endangered squirrels.

The winners were Friends of Doddington Wood who look after an area that was neglected and has now been transformed. The committee carry out regular litter picks and inspections, are working towards the introduction of beehives and funding initiatives and enthuse local people to care for their own natural environment.

Pictured: The presentation of the Green Cramlington Award

 

 

The Charity Champions Award was presented by Cllr Paul Ezhilchelvan and representatives of the Newcastle Building Society.

Cramlington Kids Club was a runner-up. It has become the largest private voluntary independent early education provider in Northumberland but at the heart of everything they do is the care of the child.

Lynn Woods and her son Daniel, who do terrific fund-raising work in the community for the benefit of a variety charities were also runners-up.

The winners were Dogs First a small rescue charity goes above and beyond to help animals in need. They also help pet owners who are facing hard times keep their beloved animals by running a food bank. Dogs, cats, Guinea pigs, rabbits…Dog’s First provide care for all animals.

Pictured: The presentation of the Charity Champions Award

 

 

The Business Award was presented by Cllr Wayne Daley and Tracy Machnicki from British Volt.

Simon Crone who has donated thousands of pounds worth of toys and gifts to a large number of Cramlington-based charities was a runner-up as was Donna Cunningham of Cramlington Veg Box who has offered support to local residents through the pandemic and beyond.

The winner was Meg Kirby from Kirbys solicitors and the founder of Legacare, a charity that supports people with terminal or life debilitating illness. Meg and her team of three solicitors have so far helped over 5000 people across the North East.

Pictured: The presentation of the Business Award

 

 

The Youth Group Award was presented by Cllr Christine Dunbar and Rev Wullie Docherty.

Runners-up were Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project who offer dedicated support to the town’s younger residents and Cramlington Table Tennis Club who aim to make table tennis accessible to as many people as possible.

The winners were Jai Sua Muay Thai Cramlington, a martial arts based in Nelson Village who offer a safe and friendly environment to anyone starting their journey to a healthier lifestyle.  Thanks to the hard work of Calvin and his team.

Pictured: The presentation of the Youth Group Award

 

 

The Community Group Award was presented by Town Mayor Cllr Loraine De Simone and Nick Furno from Draegar.

Runners-up were Healthwise, a women’s group whose aim is to promote health and wellbeing and Cramlington Townswomen’s Guild who work tirelessly to raise funds for a variety of causes.

Winners were Cramlington Knit and Natter who were later also presented with the Overall Champions award.

Pictured: The presentation of the Community Group Award

 

 

The Culture Award was presented by Adam Harvey from Cramlington Town Council and Michelle Redfearn from Northumberland Communities Together.

Runners-up were Lor Productions, an inclusive theatre company who deliver everything from community pantomimes to gritty real-life dramas, and Enchanted Cramlington, a group of Cramlington residents who use characters and stories from Northumberland folklore to link Cramlington’s wild spaces.

The winners were Northern Butterflies, a small creative charity based in south east Northumberland who work with people with learning disabilities and mental health issues. They create high quality art and promote inclusive arts to the wider community and encourage service users to realise their potential.

Pictured: The presentation of the Culture Award

 

 

The Community Volunteer Award was presented by Cramlington Town Council Community and Youth Manager Maggie Martin and Northumbria Police.

Runners-up were Mary Duncan who volunteers with adults with learning disabilities who attend Northern Butterflies and Sarah Maddison who runs three teams for the Cramlington Rockets minis.

The award went to Leslie Hodgson from Northern Gymnastics Club. He has dedicated a huge amount of time as a volunteer during the 14 years of the club’s history to date, as a coach, mentor, finance officer, health and safety officer, fundraiser and handyman and has made an outstanding contribution as a project manager.

Pictured: The presentation of the Community Volunteer Award

 

 

The Town Councils Community and Youth manager Maggie Martin said: Today has been amazing. This is why I love Cramlington – a town isn’t buildings and roads, it is people, groups and businesses working together for the benefit of others and it was evident today that Cramlington is just the best place to be.

Putting on these awards has been a team effort and I must thank all involved, especially the sponsors Mental Health Concern, Draegar, British Volt, Active Northumberland, Blyth CVA, Newcastle Building Society, Northumberland Communities Together, Northumbria Police and of course our fantastic Town Councillors.

Pictured: A group photograph of the winners and trophy presenters taken at the award ceremony in Concordia