12 Community Stars, living in Karbon communities, have received a special thank you this festive season, thanks to our 12 deeds of Christmas.
The annual campaign is our way of celebrating both the good neighbours and community heroes living and working in the areas we cover - those individuals or groups who have gone the extra mile to help others and deserve a big thank you.
To help us celebrate these stars we asked you to nominate and you didn’t disappoint.
We’ve absolutely loved hearing about all the amazing work that’s been going on in our communities and it was difficult to whittle the nominations down to just 12, but we got there.
So without further ado, here are this year’s 12 (in no particular order as we couldn’t possibly rank them)
Paul from Morpeth
Paul was nominated by Marjorie Bolton.
Marjorie said "Paul has been able to help the older people with gardening, mending broken items and giving lifts to the doctors. He never asks for anything in return; he is just such a fabulous person who never forgets some of us; checking to make sure we are ok and even keeping an eye on our homes when we are away."
The Venue in Stanley
The volunteers at The Venue in Stanley were nominated by the Stanley Community Association.
They are dedicated to providing an essential community service to the residents of Stanley and the surrounding areas. These volunteers work 52 weeks of the year, supporting the general public and community in many aspects to provide a welcoming, safe environment for various groups, organisations and charities to carry out their activities.
The Venue is open for 62 hours a week and these hours are covered by these non-paid volunteers to ensure that they deliver a first class facility that supports the community, and encourages a diverse range of users.
Malcolm Osborne
Malcolm was nominated by Diane Urua. Malcolm is the chair of The Kayaks, a South Shields-based charity who support people with additional needs and disabilities.
Diane said "Malcolm goes above and beyond to help with anything the members and families need. He supports them with education worries, helps with benefits and applies for funding to put on activities and weekends away for the families."
You can find out more about The Kayaks by visiting their website at www.thekayaks.co.uk
Debbie Rogan
Debbie Rogan was nominated by Linda Kirk for all of her help throughout the pandemic.
Linda said "When Covid hit, Debbie came up with some fantastic ideas to give out gift parcels to the most vulnerable people in our community.
"This project started with 200 she went on to deliver 10,000 from March 2020- March 2021 with just a small army of volunteers. They delivered all these packs to care homes, private residences and vulnerable families in our community.
"Never thinking that she could be putting herself at risk this was a brave lady with only one thought and that was to help our community. She really is our Hero."
Brenda Oates and Joan Abela
Brenda Oates and Joan Abela who were nominated by Rev Lee Cleminson for helping St John's Church Percy Main to launch a new Baby Bank, the only one of its kind in North Tyneside.
Brenda and Joan (both volunteers) work extremely hard behind the scenes, sorting, washing and ironing donated baby items for families. With their support, the Baby Bank has helped over 50 struggling parents with baby essentials.
Rev Lee said "Often those who use the Baby Bank don’t see Brenda or Joan-but they do a remarkable job and the Baby Bank and community very much appreciate all of the hard work and effort that they put in."
Julie Williams
Julie Williams who was nominated by Hilary Hume for all of her help throughout the pandemic.
Hilary said "Julie helped so many people in our village, no matter what time of day or what kind of weather. She collected prescriptions, went shopping for them, made telephone calls to the elderly who lived alone, and now helps out litter picking in the village. She also volunteers at our local community centre. She's just a gem."
Gareth Tate
Morpeth resident Gareth Tate was nominated by Gemma Mcalpine.
Gareth set up a foodbank in Widdrington to provide food parcels during the first lockdown and has been running it weekly ever since.
As a first responder, Gareth has been running a mini medics club, delivering pharmacy medication throughout the pandemic, does drop-ins for the elderly and helps with medical emergencies until emergency services arrive.
On top of all of that, Gareth also grits and clears paths, plants all of the planters out of his own pocket and runs a coffee morning once a week to get elderly & vulnerable out and about, picking them up and returning them home if they can’t get there.
Gemma says "Gareth goes above and beyond to help anyone in whatever way he can. He’s a huge credit to our community and he truly deserves it."
Tom Sterling and the Great Lumley Methodist Church
Tom Sterling and the team at Great Lumley Methodist Church were nominated by Paul Hadden for working tirelessly throughout the pandemic to provide food and support to local residents and the community at large.
The Church continue to offer support, food and comfort to those less well off in the community, and they are indeed a lifeline to some people.
This is a fantastic example of community spirit and dedication and we are so pleased to be able to award one of our 12 Deeds Community Stars to Tom and Great Lumley Methodist Church team.
Selby Cottage Childcare Centre
The team at Selby Cottage Childcare Centre in Durham were nominated for the amazing work they've done over the pandemic offering food parcels to people who have had little or nothing alongside running the nursery accepting children of parents who are key workers.
They've continued to do this work as well as litter picking projects and putting on events and activities for the children and their families. Over the Christmas period they surprised members of the local community with hampers and gifts.
Pauline Newton
Pauline Newton from Delves Lane, Consett was nominated by Mark Whaley.
Mark said "Pauline has been running a lunch club at our village hall in Delves Lane for over twenty years now as a volunteer freely giving her time every week to buy the food, cook the meals and wash up. Around thirty local pensioners come every week and enjoy a two course meal and bingo which would not be possible without Pauline's hard work to keep this group running."
Stephen Hope
Stephen Hope from Hexham Community Centre was nominated by Clare Mwande, the centre's manager.
Clare said "Stephen has been tackling isolation as a community issue for many years now. He has been involved with running the community centre Luncheon Club for older people who live in isolation for a very long time (too many years to count).
"Stephen started our Open Arms Project 6 years ago. This is a group that brings teenagers and older people together to play games, share skills, chat and eat a lot of cake.
"Throughout the pandemic, Stephen cooked for and organised the delivery of meals on wheels once a week to many elderly residents of Hexham. He cooked for everyone and organised volunteers to visit the same people each week so they got to know their recipients and have a chat to make them know they were not entirely on their own and that people are looking out for them.
"Stephen volunteered to help with our effort to deliver meals and Christmas Stockings to older people who were alone on Christmas Day through lockdown last year. He is also volunteering to come into the centre on Christmas Day this year to help with our celebration for people who would otherwise spend Christmas alone.
"Stephen is a member of the community centre staff but he has done way more than he gets paid to do in keeping these groups running. He is immensely popular and his cooking is universally enjoyed."
Mrs Margie Miller
Our final good deed goes to Mrs Margie Miller from Prudhoe.
Margie was nominated by Gordon Stewart, who said "Margie is in her 80s and has lived in Prudhoe all her life. She is well known and loved by all that know her.
"Margie is known as the Prudhoe poet as she writes poems for all.
"Margie has kept so many people happy over the years with her cheery smile and cheeky wit. A wonderful lady."
12 Community Stars, living in Karbon communities, have received a special thank you this festive season, thanks to our 12 deeds of Christmas.
The annual campaign is our way of celebrating both the good neighbours and community heroes living and working in the areas we cover - those individuals or groups who have gone the extra mile to help others and deserve a big thank you.
To help us celebrate these stars we asked you to nominate and you didn’t disappoint.
We’ve absolutely loved hearing about all the amazing work that’s been going on in our communities and it was difficult to whittle the nominations down to just 12, but we got there.
So without further ado, here are this year’s 12 (in no particular order as we couldn’t possibly rank them)
Paul from Morpeth
Paul was nominated by Marjorie Bolton.
Marjorie said "Paul has been able to help the older people with gardening, mending broken items and giving lifts to the doctors. He never asks for anything in return; he is just such a fabulous person who never forgets some of us; checking to make sure we are ok and even keeping an eye on our homes when we are away."
The Venue in Stanley
The volunteers at The Venue in Stanley were nominated by the Stanley Community Association.
They are dedicated to providing an essential community service to the residents of Stanley and the surrounding areas. These volunteers work 52 weeks of the year, supporting the general public and community in many aspects to provide a welcoming, safe environment for various groups, organisations and charities to carry out their activities.
The Venue is open for 62 hours a week and these hours are covered by these non-paid volunteers to ensure that they deliver a first class facility that supports the community, and encourages a diverse range of users.
Malcolm Osborne
Malcolm was nominated by Diane Urua. Malcolm is the chair of The Kayaks, a South Shields-based charity who support people with additional needs and disabilities.
Diane said "Malcolm goes above and beyond to help with anything the members and families need. He supports them with education worries, helps with benefits and applies for funding to put on activities and weekends away for the families."
You can find out more about The Kayaks by visiting their website at www.thekayaks.co.uk
Debbie Rogan
Debbie Rogan was nominated by Linda Kirk for all of her help throughout the pandemic.
Linda said "When Covid hit, Debbie came up with some fantastic ideas to give out gift parcels to the most vulnerable people in our community.
"This project started with 200 she went on to deliver 10,000 from March 2020- March 2021 with just a small army of volunteers. They delivered all these packs to care homes, private residences and vulnerable families in our community.
"Never thinking that she could be putting herself at risk this was a brave lady with only one thought and that was to help our community. She really is our Hero."
Brenda Oates and Joan Abela
Brenda Oates and Joan Abela who were nominated by Rev Lee Cleminson for helping St John's Church Percy Main to launch a new Baby Bank, the only one of its kind in North Tyneside.
Brenda and Joan (both volunteers) work extremely hard behind the scenes, sorting, washing and ironing donated baby items for families. With their support, the Baby Bank has helped over 50 struggling parents with baby essentials.
Rev Lee said "Often those who use the Baby Bank don’t see Brenda or Joan-but they do a remarkable job and the Baby Bank and community very much appreciate all of the hard work and effort that they put in."
Julie Williams
Julie Williams who was nominated by Hilary Hume for all of her help throughout the pandemic.
Hilary said "Julie helped so many people in our village, no matter what time of day or what kind of weather. She collected prescriptions, went shopping for them, made telephone calls to the elderly who lived alone, and now helps out litter picking in the village. She also volunteers at our local community centre. She's just a gem."
Gareth Tate
Morpeth resident Gareth Tate was nominated by Gemma Mcalpine.
Gareth set up a foodbank in Widdrington to provide food parcels during the first lockdown and has been running it weekly ever since.
As a first responder, Gareth has been running a mini medics club, delivering pharmacy medication throughout the pandemic, does drop-ins for the elderly and helps with medical emergencies until emergency services arrive.
On top of all of that, Gareth also grits and clears paths, plants all of the planters out of his own pocket and runs a coffee morning once a week to get elderly & vulnerable out and about, picking them up and returning them home if they can’t get there.
Gemma says "Gareth goes above and beyond to help anyone in whatever way he can. He’s a huge credit to our community and he truly deserves it."
Tom Sterling and the Great Lumley Methodist Church
Tom Sterling and the team at Great Lumley Methodist Church were nominated by Paul Hadden for working tirelessly throughout the pandemic to provide food and support to local residents and the community at large.
The Church continue to offer support, food and comfort to those less well off in the community, and they are indeed a lifeline to some people.
This is a fantastic example of community spirit and dedication and we are so pleased to be able to award one of our 12 Deeds Community Stars to Tom and Great Lumley Methodist Church team.
Selby Cottage Childcare Centre
The team at Selby Cottage Childcare Centre in Durham were nominated for the amazing work they've done over the pandemic offering food parcels to people who have had little or nothing alongside running the nursery accepting children of parents who are key workers.
They've continued to do this work as well as litter picking projects and putting on events and activities for the children and their families. Over the Christmas period they surprised members of the local community with hampers and gifts.
Pauline Newton
Pauline Newton from Delves Lane, Consett was nominated by Mark Whaley.
Mark said "Pauline has been running a lunch club at our village hall in Delves Lane for over twenty years now as a volunteer freely giving her time every week to buy the food, cook the meals and wash up. Around thirty local pensioners come every week and enjoy a two course meal and bingo which would not be possible without Pauline's hard work to keep this group running."
Stephen Hope
Stephen Hope from Hexham Community Centre was nominated by Clare Mwande, the centre's manager.
Clare said "Stephen has been tackling isolation as a community issue for many years now. He has been involved with running the community centre Luncheon Club for older people who live in isolation for a very long time (too many years to count).
"Stephen started our Open Arms Project 6 years ago. This is a group that brings teenagers and older people together to play games, share skills, chat and eat a lot of cake.
"Throughout the pandemic, Stephen cooked for and organised the delivery of meals on wheels once a week to many elderly residents of Hexham. He cooked for everyone and organised volunteers to visit the same people each week so they got to know their recipients and have a chat to make them know they were not entirely on their own and that people are looking out for them.
"Stephen volunteered to help with our effort to deliver meals and Christmas Stockings to older people who were alone on Christmas Day through lockdown last year. He is also volunteering to come into the centre on Christmas Day this year to help with our celebration for people who would otherwise spend Christmas alone.
"Stephen is a member of the community centre staff but he has done way more than he gets paid to do in keeping these groups running. He is immensely popular and his cooking is universally enjoyed."
Mrs Margie Miller
Our final good deed goes to Mrs Margie Miller from Prudhoe.
Margie was nominated by Gordon Stewart, who said "Margie is in her 80s and has lived in Prudhoe all her life. She is well known and loved by all that know her.
"Margie is known as the Prudhoe poet as she writes poems for all.
"Margie has kept so many people happy over the years with her cheery smile and cheeky wit. A wonderful lady."
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