Haverhill Show chairman dedicates his Community Action Suffolk Volunteering Award to his committee members
The chairman of the Haverhill Show has dedicated a Suffolk-wide Organiser of the Year award he received last week to his invaluable fellow committee members.
Joe Mason says he was 'humbled' to receive the Community Action Suffolk Volunteering Award, which formed part of the new Suffolk Community Awards, during a presentation evening last week at the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket.
Joe said: "As chairman of the Haverhill Show it is an absolute pleasure working with my team, getting to celebrate and support local charities and good causes, and of course share the proceeds raised with the different beneficiaries nominated each year.
"So I am really keen to share this award with my committee: Lisa Mason, Kelly Bennett, Andy Bennett, Julie Skuce, Aaron Luccarini, Julie Shepherd and Karen Thompson, whose contributions, commitment and hard work are essential to the success of each Haverhill Show. I simply couldn't organise the Haverhill Show without them.
"The Haverhill Show is truly a 'Haverhill Team Effort' that extends beyond the committee.
"In preparing the show we are fortunate to receive vital sponsorship support and engagement from the local business community.
"We also receive important financial support from Haverhill Town Council, and on the day our volunteer ranks are bolstered by some of the town council staff and local residents.
"I am of course immensely grateful to the people of Haverhill who come down to the Recreation Ground to support our events.
"There is so much goodwill that we receive in putting on the Haverhill Show, that I and my team consider ourselves really fortunate to be entrusted with organising such a large and important event that brings the whole town together."
Joe added that many of the volunteers in Haverhill that give up their time to improve the lives of others would be equally as deserving of an award as he and encouraged anyone considering volunteering to get involved in whichever good cause they choose.
The Haverhill Show committee will be distributing the £6,500 raised at this year's event on October 11 to the various beneficiaries.
The awards event recognised the outstanding contributions from 14 individuals and organisations representing young people, community buildings, and volunteers as well as initiatives that have contributed to creating the most active communities and village and town of the year.
It also included a brand new award ‘Suffolk Good Neighbour Award” sponsored by Suffolk Community Foundation.
Christine Abraham, Chief Executive Officer of Community Action Suffolk, said: “The new collaborative awards had a record number of entries and it was a difficult task this year for the panels to select the final winners.
"We were overwhelmed by the breadth of activity that people are undertaking for the benefit of others and their local communities.
"Suffolk should be very proud”.
Sally Longmate, Chief Executive Officer of the Suffolk Association of Local Councils, added: "Local town and parish councils are enablers and increasingly making a significant contribution to where we choose to live and it is important to have these awards so we can shine a light on the work they do.”
Cllr James Reeder, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Public Health and Prevention said: “The contribution that local communities make to helping people be, and stay, active is truly remarkable.
"Throughout Suffolk there are a huge array of classes, clubs and events taking place every week that encourage people to get moving.
"Collectively they have an immense impact on the social, emotional and physical health of the county and for that I salute them.
"They are a fundamental part of our ambitions to, ultimately, become the most active county in England.”
Compere Mark Murphy, BBC Radio Suffolk, added “I have always said we don’t shout loud enough when it comes to all the hard work individuals and groups put into making Suffolk a great place to live.
"I was proud to be involved in presenting these awards to these unsung heroes and it was a great idea to bring them together into one event.”
THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
CAS Community Awards
Colonel Probert Award : Hour Community
Ian Campbell MBE Award : Bryan Hall
Village Hall & Community Building Award : Shotley Village Hall
SALC Town and Village of the Year Awards
Small Village of the Year : Bures
Large Village of the Year : Woolpit
Town of the Year : Sudbury
CAS Children and Young People Awards
Andrew Towers Award : Issac Holmes
Roddy Macleod Award : Lowestoft Boxing Academy
Anne Dunford OBE Award : Proud Period
Suffolk’s Most Active Community Awards
Most Active Village of the Year : Kirton and Falkenham
Most Active Town of the Year : Bury St. Edmunds
CAS Volunteering Awards
Event Organiser of the Year : Joe Mason
Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering Award : Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne
Suffolk Good Neighbour Award : Cherie Parnell
