Carer of the Year 2017 Finalists – Dave and Lynda Gomersall

Love Barrow Admin

Dave and Lynda Gomersall have made it to the final three for the Carer of the Year Lynda and Dave Gomersall have been nominated by their son Scott for the care they have provided him after he returned home from hospital in 2014.

In 2013, Scott, who at the time owned his own business, SDG Accountants in Barrow,  suffered a Subarachnoid Haemorrhage suddenly while at work.  He was rushed to Furness General and from there, thanks to the speed of the doctors and the team he was transferred to Preston Neurological Rehabilitation Unit.   That night doctors told Lynda and Dave Gomersall that their son was unlikely to make it through the night and it was best to say their goodbyes while they still could.lba17_carer_dave-and-lynda-gomersall-resize-for-blog

Against all odds Scott survived the night and finally regained conscious after being in a coma for 3 weeks.  Scott went on to spend the next 10 months in Preston NRU working tirelessly with the team there to recover.  Scotts Father, Dave, continues to work even though he was due to retire and Scott’s mum, Lynda stayed in Preston in a special unit for relatives, then rented a room in Preston to be able to attend hospital every day.  With sheer determination and hard work alongside the dedication of his parents, Scott  learned to do many things again that we all take for granted such as learning to sit, up, chew food and finally having to learn to walk again.

Scott was then released home, where he moved back in with his parents, who have adapted parts of their home to accommodate Scott and his continuing rehabilitation.  Dave has continued to work to help support Scott and the family while Lynda helps take care of Scott throughout the day as well as looking after her own mother who recently suffered a stroke and suffers from Dementia.

Scott says of his parents “Without the time and support from my parents I don’t know where I would be today but I’m sure I would not have achieved what I have to date”

Scott defied the odds and thanks to the continued support and love of Lynda and Dave, has been able to start to get back to normal and start to contribute in small ways within the community by volunteering with the Love Barrow Awards, which previously he had sponsored the Young Citizen category with his business SDG Accountants.

TO VOTE FOR DAVE & LYNDA IN THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD  

TEXT  LBA13 to 82055

Peoples Choice Award Sponsor

With thanks to Blake Henderson Ltd for sponsoring this award

Each text vote costs your normal network text message charge.

One free vote may be made online by visiting www.lovebarrowawards.co.uk/peopleschoice

Voting closes at 6.00pm on the Sunday 19th February 2017. Any votes received after then may be charged but will not be counted.

The winner will be announced at The Love Barrow Awards on Friday 10th March 2017 and will be announced via Facebook and Twitter also.

Citizen of the Year 2017 Finalists – Gill Grisedale

Love Barrow Admin

Gill Grisedale has been nominated for the endless groups and projects she has set up, run and supported in her role at St Marks Church.

Gill Grisedale is the Community Pastor at St Marks Chruch in Barrow-in-Furness.

Through her role she has provided groups and services that people in her community have express a need for.  Gill is never sat still going in and around the community, always compiling lists of available help and resources. Never has one person started so many different and diverse groups and is also heavily involved in making sure they are sustainable . From babies through to the elderly no one is unreachable and all can be helped or indeed help.lba17_citz_gillian-grisedale_resize-for-blog

St Marks has a fully functioning clothes bank, there is a free lunch provided on Monday, craft group and a toddlers group, social groups, youth clubs, youth cafe, free hugs and a caring word.  Gill does all this as well as being a mum and foster parent, wife and recently becoming a hedgehog adoption centre, there is nothing this woman will do to help everyone.

Gill also works with homeless people, has an emergency food cache for those in need.  On one Christmas Eve, a young woman with children had escaped from an abusive partner and was given emergency accommodation so Gill and her family stepped in to help buy electricity and gas coupons, she went to the shops and bought a few clothes toiletries and then a few presents for the children’s christmas presents to make sure that family had a Christmas Day. 

The funding for Gill’s post ends later this year ( 2016 ) and there is little prospect of it being renewed but Gill has made some ripples in the sea of deprivation about us and has asked that her congregation and the wider community continue to do the same and continue with the good work. 

Her friends and colleagues say “You are trapped in a web of love and care when you meet Gill, she makes a difference to everyone she meets and is humble in all she does. An amazing lady with an amazing heart.”

TO VOTE FOR GILL IN THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD  

TEXT  LBA22 to 82055

Peoples Choice Award Sponsor

With thanks to Blake Henderson Ltd for sponsoring this award

Each text vote costs your normal network text message charge.

One free vote may be made online by visiting www.lovebarrowawards.co.uk/peopleschoice

Voting closes at 6.00pm on the Sunday 19th February 2017. Any votes received after then may be charged but will not be counted.

The winner will be announced at The Love Barrow Awards on Friday 10th March 2017 and will be announced via Facebook and Twitter also.

 

 

Group Or Project of the Year 2017 Finalist – Women’s Community Matters

Love Barrow Admin

Women’s Community Matters have made it into the finals for the constant support, advice and guidance they provide to women at their centre in Barrow.

Women’s Community Matters was established in 2014 as a centre for women in the area to get access to help support and guidance in all aspects of life.

Based in Duke Street in Barrow-in-Furness, the core team of Women’s Community Matters live and breathe the philosophy that Every Woman Matters.  The team are made up of real women, who understand the pressures, the challenges and the successes that women face on a daily basis and are supported by volunteers and a wide variety of other organisations and business throughout the area.

Women’s Community Matters help to make a  positive difference to the lives of women in the Barrow area. They help in all ways providing resources to women in crisis and those who are vulnerable and at risk and provide a friendly, safe centre where you can simply pop in for a cup of tea and a piece of cake!

It doesn’t matter about your age or background, the centre welcomes all women aged 16+.

They run Drop in sessions,  activities and courses where women can learn and grow and have their own clothes bank.

The team strive to create an atmosphere of empowerment and self-development, removing obstacles and dealing with issues together.  A lot of the women who benefit from the centre go on to help and  participate in the day to day running as volunteers, trustees and members.

One of their ladies has said “I don’t know where I would be without them, they were their for me when I didn’t feel I had anywhere else to go, now I am helping others in their journey”

TO VOTE FOR WCM IN THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD  

TEXT  LBA21 to 82055

Peoples Choice Award Sponsor

With thanks to Blake Henderson Ltd for sponsoring this award

Each text vote costs your normal network text message charge.

One free vote may be made online by visiting www.lovebarrowawards.co.uk/peopleschoice

Voting closes at 6.00pm on the Sunday 19th February 2017. Any votes received after then may be charged but will not be counted.

The winner will be announced at The Love Barrow Awards on Friday 10th March 2017 and will be announced via Facebook and Twitter also.

 

Trainee or Apprentice of the Year 2017 Finalist – Adam Ellis

Love Barrow Admin

Adam Ellis has made it to the final three for the dedication and tireless and endless effort he gives and shows the Army Cadets Force in Barrow.

Adam Ellis is 17 years old,  is a dedicated member of the Barrow Detachment, Cumbria Army Cadet Force. He parades twice a week without fail, regularly deploys on strenuous weekend exercises and attends intense national training courses lasting up to seven days. It is through his passion and commitment he has achieved the highest rank every cadet aspires to achieve,

Adam is regularly relied upon to instruct and coach large numbers of cadets in military subjects including, drill, weapon handling and map reading and on a normal parade night at Barrow Detachment he puts all his training and experience to use and instructs other cadets to an exceptional level. The depth of knowledge and his ability to communicate it along with his approachable personality and excellent bearing allows him to deliver l ” class lessons that even regular soldiers would been grossed in.

Due to all of Adams effolba17_trainee_adam-ellis-resize-for-blogrts, he was selected as the best cadet from them all to become the Lord-Lieutenants Cadet. This is a high profile appointment which is selected from the Army Cadet Force, the Sea Cadet Corps, the Air Training Corps and the Combined Cadet Force, all from within Cumbria. These extra duties require Adam to assist the Lord-Lieutenant with VIP visits and parades around the county. He also acts as an ambassador for all the cadet organisations and all the young people of the county.  This appointment is recognised as one of the  highest honours a cadet can achieve.

 

Adam has successfull y captained many teams to success in the Army Cadet Force and has lead teams to victory in Cumbria ACF Military Skills competitions, an intense weekend where a team of 8 cadets put their training and skills to the test against other teams from around the county in navigation, first aid, attacks, shooting, camouflage and drill.  Adam represents the county in shooting  and has competed and won in various national and regional shooting  competitions.

Over the years Adam has selflessly helped raise much needed funds for the Royal British Legion, selling poppies.

Adam is currently completing his STEC first Diploma in Public Services and his silver Duke of Edinburgh award with the ACF, highlighting his devotion and commitment once again. He has completed his Senior Cadet Instructors Cadre, Cadet Leadership Course and most recently his Master Cadet course, being placed inside the top 2 in all courses.  Adam is also studying maths, physics and Law A levels and completed geography AS Level at Barrow 6th Form College.

The Barrow Detachment say “Adams loyalty and commitment to Cumbria Army Cadet Force and Barrow Detachment is second to none. Through his actions as a cadet he encourages and leads other cadets to carry out their duty as a cadet correctly and without question.”

TO VOTE FOR ADAM IN THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD  

TEXT  LBA5 to 82055

Peoples Choice Award Sponsor

With thanks to Blake Henderson Ltd for sponsoring this award

Each text vote costs your normal network text message charge.

One free vote may be made online by visiting www.lovebarrowawards.co.uk/peopleschoice

Voting closes at 6.00pm on the Sunday 19th February 2017. Any votes received after then may be charged but will not be counted.

The winner will be announced at The Love Barrow Awards on Friday 10th March 2017 and will be announced via Facebook and Twitter also.

 

Trainee of Apprentice of the Year 2017 Finalist – Claire Austin

Love Barrow Admin

Claire Austin has been put through to the final three because of her outstanding contribution to the Women’s Community Matters Center, Barrow while on her placement for her master in Social Work.

Claire Austin is a Student Social Worker currently completing her Masters in Social Work at Lancaster University. She has just entered her 2nd year. She was on placement at Women’s Community Matters for 4-months in early 2016 and the centre says, excelled in everything she did.

Claire has delivered group work sessions at the centre, even though it was something she was brand new to, the content of her sessions were accessible, engaging and interesting. She has the ability to engage with people on their level and had a positive impact on the lives of so many people. She worked in courses and on one-to-one with women who have a whole range of lived experience lba17_trainee_claire-austin-esize-for-blogincluding mental health issues, criminality, addiction, sexual abuse, domestic abuse and much more.

The centre has said that Claire has a deep level of intuition, which enabled her to work effectively with clients in a kind, compassionate and empathic way. She was extremely creative and used her talents to make her work with clients exciting and interesting, relating it to their particular needs. She used all those skills at Women’s Community Matters as well as ” House.

Claire continues to volunteer at the Women’s COmmunity Matters Centre weekly offering 1:1 support to clients. Claire also works at Ostley House in Barrow as a manager and is extremely passionate about her work with older adults.

 

Women’s Community Matters says “Claire is kind, compassionate, creative and intuitive. She’s passionate about becoming a social worker who will make a difference to people’s lives. She is continuously putting other people at the forefront of her mind and her reflective skills allow her to continuously grow and develop as a social worker. She has a deeply empathic nature and her kindness knows no bounds.”

TO VOTE FOR CLAIRE IN THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD  

TEXT  LBA4 to 82055

Peoples Choice Award Sponsor

With thanks to Blake Henderson Ltd for sponsoring this award

Each text vote costs your normal network text message charge.

One free vote may be made online by visiting www.lovebarrowawards.co.uk/peopleschoice

Voting closes at 6.00pm on the Sunday 19th February 2017. Any votes received after then may be charged but will not be counted.

The winner will be announced at The Love Barrow Awards on Friday 10th March 2017 and will be announced via Facebook and Twitter also.