The first Blyth Valley Community Champion has been announced by Ian Levy MP. Maggie Martin from Cramlington has been recognised for leading the response of community groups in the town to the coronavirus pandemic.
Through Maggie’s efforts, people who are self-isolating have been supported by more than one hundred volunteers, who have been carrying out shopping and delivering food parcels. Prescriptions have been collected and gardening jobs have also been done. Volunteers from community groups across Cramlington are matched by Maggie to each task and every neighbourhood is covered.
Ian Levy said: “Maggie has done an absolutely incredible job in Cramlington and fully deserves the first Community Champion award for Blyth Valley. Bringing people and groups together has made a huge difference to those that have needed extra help in recent weeks.
“The amount of feedback Maggie has received from people that have been supported, and also from their families, shows the impact of her non-stop work. I look forward to meeting with Maggie to hear more and also to thank her personally for everything that she has done.”
Maggie said: “It is lovely to receive the award and I was almost speechless when I was told which is really not like me. I have just tried to do whatever I can to help and there have been so many people in community groups that have also been involved.
“The best bit has been people telling me about how grateful they are for a ten-minute conversation when a food parcel or a prescription is dropped off. Being able to provide some contact with the outside world has been as important as the delivery.”
“Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project has been the base for everything and their volunteers have been fantastic. I must also mention the support from East Hartford Community Centre, Engage Cramlington and Eastfield Estate Community Association.
“The Church of the Nazarene and the Cramlington Branch of The Royal British Legion have also been great. None of this would have been possible without the community groups stepping forward as they have done.”
Blyth Valley Community Champions has been set up by Ian Levy to acknowledge the remarkable people who are making a difference to the lives of others during the coronavirus outbreak. Nominations can be made via the link below –
www.ianlevy.org.uk/news/blyth-valley-mp-launches-awards-community-champions
There is a weekly deadline of 5pm on a Wednesday with a Community Champion announced on Facebook and Instagram every Friday. A special reception will be held for all COVID-19 Community Champions when it is possible to do so.
Blyth Valley Community Champions is supported by Universal Wolf Ltd.
