Citizen of the Year 2017
Sponsored by Furness Building Society
Sharon Foden
Some people are the heart and soul of positive community action. Sharon Foden has been nominated for the selfless work she puts in setting up and running Barrow Community Kitchen. Since realising that there were people isolated and starving in the local community, Sharon has not rested in her efforts to ensure that there is an environment every single week for people to go to and have nutritious 3 course meals, warm friendship and a non-judgmental welcome
Watch Sharon’s Nomination Video
Runners up : Gill Grisedale & Matt Davies
Watch Gill Grisedale’s Nomination Video
Watch Matt Davies’ Nomination Video
Young Citizen of the Year 2017
Anna Rose Gaskell
Friendship can grow in the most difficult conditions. Anna Rose Gaskill has been nominated for the exceptional level of support she gives to her best friend Leah, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy and epilepsy. Kind and patient, Anna is always there for her friend yet she encourages Leah to be as independent as possible both in and out of school. Their class as a whole are extremely supportive of Leah, and a large part of this is down to Anna. She sets the standard and is a role-model for young and old alike.
Runners up : Reece Jackson & Kian Woodburn
Watch Reece’s Nomination Video
Group or Project of the Year 2017
Sponsored by Phil Collier Associates
Women’s Community Matters
We all need a place where we can feel welcome, safe and supported. Women’s Community Matters has been nominated for the active role they take in the community to help women of all ages in the Barrow area. Opened in November 2013, the centre is focused on everything that is a woman, helping them achieve their potential and helping them believe in themselves. Run with the help of committed volunteers, the centre is open to all women, from all walks of life.
Watch Women’s Community Matters Nomination Video
Runners up : The Well & SAFA
Watch SAFA’s Nomination Video Watch The Well’s Nomination Video
Carer of the Year 2017
Sponsored by Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group
Sophie Hotchkiss
Some people naturally care. Sophie Hotchkiss has been nominated for the care she provides for her mum. Sophie cares daily for her mum, who is confined to a wheelchair, helping with showering, medication, house and garden work as well as helping ensure her mum gets out and about. All this while working full time as a clinical support worker at Furness General and coping with her own problems, undergoing surgery and physiotherapy for her right hand and surgery on her ears to help her hearing.
Watch Sophie’s Nomination Video
Runners up : Amanda Bland & Dave and Lynda Gomersall
Watch Amanda’s Nomination Video Watch Dave & Lynda’s Nomination Video
Teacher of the Year 2017
Sponsored by BAE Systems
Alison Barnes
A teacher doesn’t just help children learn but encourages passion and enthusiasm. Ruth Squires has been nominated for the time and energy she devotes to her class and her school, South Walney Infants. Ruth is not only a reception teacher but also the assistant head teacher, demonstrating energy and empathy in equal measure, never hesitating to go beyond her duties to ensure that the pupils under her care have what they need to learn, stay safe and have fun!
Watch Alison’s Nomination Video
Runners up : Caroline Vernon & Laura Godbold
Watch Caroline’s Nomination Video Watch Laura’s Nomination Video
Sports Volunteer of the Year 2017
Sponsored by The Bay Radio
Bob Davies
A desire to support a passion can lead sports volunteers to achieve amazing things. Bob Davies has been nominated for the 30 plus years he has given to local football covering all roles: groundsman, coach, referee, and club chairman. ‘Sir Bob’ as he is known to many, is currently chairman at Crooklands Casuals FC, his desire to help and friendly welcome make sure that everyone feels special. Sir Bob is also a well respected referee, travelling beyond Barrow to help control matches in his calm, effective style.
Runners up : Jeff Moses & Mark Ralph
Watch Jeff’s Nomination Video Watch Mark’s Nomination Video
Community Focused Business Of the Year 2017
Sponsored by International Nuclear Services
Lake District Farmers
The local community is as much a part of some businesses as anything else. Lake District Farmers have been nominated for the kindness and generosity they have shown, sometimes in the most difficult circumstances! Through their charitable fund, the business continually supports local people who need help. Originally based in Lindal in Furness, the business was forced to move after a major fire in 2015 but their focus on the community remains unchanged.
Watch Lake District Farmer’s Nomination Video
Runners Up:
Watch the Deemon Performance Academy’s Nomination Video
Watch Imagine Independence’s Nomination Video
Trainee or Apprentice of the Year 2017
Sponsored by Furness College
Adam Ellis
A desire to be the best can ripple outwards, inspiring and encouraging others. Adam Ellis has been nominated for the loyalty and determination he has displayed as an Army Cadet, currently completing a BTEC in Public Services. In just 5 years he has reached Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major, the highest rank every cadet aspires to. The leadership and support he provides to other cadets and the example he sets for other young people is truly impressive.
Runners Up: Claire Austin & Joshua Ashley
Watch Claire’s Nomination Video Watch Joshua’s Nomination Video
Peoples Choice Award 2017
Sponsored by Blake Henderson Ltd
Sophie Hotchkiss
Some people naturally care. Sophie Hotchkiss has been nominated for the care she provides for her mum. Sophie cares daily for her mum, who is confined to a wheelchair, helping with showering, medication, house and garden work as well as helping ensure her mum gets out and about. All this while working full time as a clinical support worker at Furness General and coping with her own problems, undergoing surgery and physiotherapy for her right hand and surgery on her ears to help her hearing.
Watch Sophie’s Nomination Video
Ambassador Award 2017
Sponsored by Cumbria Police & Crime Commisoner
Phil Collier
Phil was born in Crosby, Liverpool some 60 years ago and has two brothers, Mike and Tim.
He started a career in HR, but it was then called personnel management, working for various shipping firms, including James Fisher, and this eventually brought him to Barrow around 20 years ago. He now has his own firm undertaking consultancy work for a number of local employers.
Phil is a very generous man, who will readily give up a lot of his own time and is passionate about the local community. He often gives more time to various community causes than to his paid employment.
He is presently the local chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses and annually runs a very successful and enjoyable version of Question Time. David Dimbleby, watch out!
He recently chaired the Barrow Improvement District (or BID) Steering Group and was successful in Barrow attaining BID status. He has since become BID Manager and is determined to improve the local town centre.
He also has put a huge amount of work into Barrow Credit Union and, when that organisation was experiencing some difficulties to the end of last year, he fought tirelessly to get them back on track. Barrow Credit Union is now very much ‘alive and kicking’ with much of this being due to Phil’s magnificent efforts.
He is at present setting up a new charity to be based in Barrow, the North West Music and Arts Academy, and is also a keen supporter of the Lake District Farmers Armstrong Family Charitable Fund.
Phil is not a man of few words (as you have probably witnessed already tonight), in fact, he could talk for England. When he attends a meeting, you know that you are not going to get an early finish!
Phil now lives in Askam with his wife, Jen, and is often seen on Askam beach being dragged along by their black Labrador, Jasmine! He has also been seen downing the odd pint of Guinness too!
He is a very keen sports fan and is an avid supporter of both Liverpool FC and Barrow AFC. At the latter, he sponsors some of the kit, some of the players and often selects the Man of the Match as well as sponsoring their Under 18s squad. He supports under 18 football at Lancashire FA too by providing the Phil Collier Associates Cup which numerous under 18 teams compete for.
He was actually a good footballer himself playing for Lancashire Boys and Marine FC as well as getting a number of trials, including one from Aston Villa, but his headmaster dad insisted that he got himself a proper job first!
Phil has the distinction of being asked to leave the stand at Forest Green Rovers FC for over celebrating a Barrow goal – but it was the first time they had won away all season!
He is a mean photographer and a keen ornithologist. So, as well as being a twitcher, not surprisingly he has taken some great photos of birds. He also has his camera with him at many of the community events he attends which has resulted in many of his photographs appearing in such esteemed publications as the North West Evening Mail. With his various community roles, he now gets his photo into that newspaper more than our own MP, John Woodcock.
Phil is a popular singer/songwriter and plays an extremely good version of ‘Hotel California’ on his guitar. As week as playing free of charge at a number of community events, he recorded a CD called ‘Across the Cobblestones’, containing all his own songs, to help support the Hospices in both Ulverston and Lancaster. He still has got a number of copies to sell! He is due to make a second CD in the very near future.
In conclusion, Phil is a great guy who does an amazing amount of work for the community and thoroughly deserves to be named Ambassador of the Year 2017.