Last updated 16:29, Wednesday, 08 October 2008

COPELAND organisations featured among the awards at an annual presentation ceremony held by the West Cumbria Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership at The Wave, Maryport.

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Highly commended: Christine Bell and Andrea Shaples of Home Housing

The event recognises and highlights the work of people in tackling crime and the difference they make to the areas in which they live.

Maryport mayor Mary Claire Telford hosted the event.

Winner of the top award was volunteer Carol Tindall, 48, of Flimby, who had set up a successful youth group in the village. But also being recognised was Egremont Castle Friends Group, who won the Partnership Award for taking a stand against anti-social behaviour.

And staff from Home and Copeland Homes picked four accolades: the South Whitehaven Neighbourhood Warden team was commended in the Effective Partnership Working category. The Home Neighbourhood Services and Tenancy Enforcement teams were also commended for their work on the ongoing Quality Street initiative in Wath Brow, with the judges being particularly impressed at the teams’ work in identifying the problem on the estate and how they effectively tackled the issue.

Caroline McDonald and Graham Spedding for Copeland Homes and Home’s Tenancy Enforcement teams were honoured for their work as part of the Distington Rural Safety Group, and Jane White, also from Copeland Homes Tenancy Enforcement team, was also commended for her effective partnership working with Wigton police.

Joe Milburn, chairman of the CDRP panel and leader of Allerdale council, said the ceremony was a celebration of how ordinary people make a better life for themselves and their communities.

“I am humbled by their commitment and dedication. Crime and disorder will decrease because of their dedication,’’ he said.

Ten people also received awards for taking a stand. They are members of their communities who have acted with determination and courage to inspire others and to make their communities better. Because of the work they have done and continue to do in partnership with the police and other agencies, the 10 (six men and four women) remain unnamed.

The day’s events included presentations from local schoolchildren, with Westfield School, Workington, performing its Rock Challenge entry.

Awards results:

Partnership awards (for those setting up and maintaining a partnership that made an impact on the community): Winner: Egremont Castle Friends Group, which has taken a stand against anti-social behaviour. Highly commended: Responsible Authorities Partnership, in which 25 licensed premises, concerned about violence and disorder discussed the issues and took action; CORP Summer activities initiative organised by Connexions, Impact Community Development and the police. Commended: Millom Children’s Centre; Home Tenancy Enforcement Team and Wigton Community Police team; South Whitehaven neighbourhood wardens; Impact Tenancy Enforcement Team and Maryport Police; Youth Work Egremont; Business Against Crime (Whitehaven); South Whitehaven CCTV Partnership; Partnership of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, Derwent and Solway, Allerdale Borough Council and Victoria Infant School; South Workington Multi-Agency Support Team.

Problem-solving award: Winners: Flimby Youth Club members and volunteers. Highly Commended: Distington Rural Safety Group; South Workington Police Community Support Officers. Commended: Maryport Community Police Team, including former PCSO, now PC Andy Robinson, for the Maryport dispersal order; Home Group’s Quality Street project and Louise Kelly, Community Safety Officer.

Young volunteer: Winner: Heidi McCulla, 18, volunteer special constable at Maryport. Highly commended: Adam Kirkbride, Be Fit – Be Safe Campaign for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service; Anya Leonard, volunteer youth group worker at Salterbeck.

Volunteer award: Winner Carol Tindall, Maryport town councillor, member of the Flimby Partnership, chairwoman of Rape Crisis and founder of Flimby Youth Group. Highly commended: Raymond Winder, who assists with the National Children’s Home, police; Allerdale Borough’s crime and disorder reduction partnership; Workington Rugby League, Yankees Junior Football team and Workington Pub Watch; Lyn Mills, Whitehaven Harbour Project. Commended: David Martin, volunteer with Cumbria Fire and Rescue; Terry Hughes, head coach, Seaton Athletic Club; Margaret Bremner, West Cumbria Equality and Diversity Partnership; Brian Thompson, Maryport Boys and Girls Club.

Education award: Winner: Netherhall Inclusion Panel, Maryport. Highly commended: Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service West, young firefighters scheme; Junior Rock Challenge to reduce child obesity, raising awareness of drug misuse and the dangers of smoking. Special mention was made of Jan Clarke who has worked to promote the event in Cumbria. Loser campaign (children were asked to make a poster, write a piece of music or a short essay promoting the message that vandals are losers): Ellis Shepherd and Lucy Dunn.

Equality and diversity awards: Winner: Maryport Multi-Cultural Support Group drop-in centre for migrant workers. Highly commended: Egremont PCSO Charlotte Davies; Cumbria Fire and Rescue’s Makaton signing (sign language). Commended: Hate Crime – third party reporting centres.