The High Sheriff of Clywd’s Annual Community Awards were held on Saturday 9^th March at Brynkinalt, Chirk – home of the current High Sheriff Kate Hill-Trevor.  Those invited to attend were nominated by others in the community and The High Sheriff was delighted to be able to recognise and personally thank them for their dedication and commitment to the voluntary sector and their local communities.

Photo caption: L-r: The High Sheriff of Clwyd, Mrs Kate Hill-Trevor, with all the award winners and dignitaries of this year’s High Sheriffs Community Awards Ceremony at Brynkinalt, Chirk, Photography by Helen Baly.  Please credit image @HelenBaley* on Instagram

Kate Hill-Trevor said “ Being High Sheriff is a tremendous privilege which has given me the opportunity to learn more about the uplifting projects that are happening here in North Wales and to meet some incredible people.  Volunteers are active at the heart of every UK community, and it is very clear that the millions of people who give their time and skills to charities and community projects are quite simply an essential part of the world today.

However this work often goes unseen and unsung. These awards give me an opportunity to recognise a small number of the volunteers and organisations who work tirelessly within Clwyd to make a difference to those around them”.

The High Sheriff also welcomed the winners of the Crimebeat North Wales Project of the Year in Clwyd, Rhyl Youth Boxing Club  - chosen in recognition of the outstanding work done by the club to support young people in Rhyl. She presented the Head Coach - Dan Andrews, A-J Hughes  one of the  young boxers and PC Simon Keeting from North Wales Police who is also a volunteer Coach at the Club with a glass trophy.

Photo caption: The High Sheriff of Clwyd, Mrs Kate Hill-Trevor, with Rhyl Boxing club - winners of the Crimebeat North Wales Project of the Year in Clwyd, L-r: PC Simon Keeting, Dan Andrews – Head Coach, The High Sheriff of Clwyd Kate Hill-Trevor, A-J Hughes and Dave Evans – North Wales Police & Crimebeat North Wales Photography by Helen Baly. Please credit image @HelenBaley* on Instagram

She said “Crimebeat supports projects undertaken to help to keep young people out of trouble, support victims of crime, stimulate an interest in voluntary work, improve school attendance and behaviour and generally improve the lives of everyone in the community. This year’s winners are a not-for-profit club who provide boxing training for young people from all social backgrounds as well as those disabilities and several Ukrainian refugees. They build friendships, respect and support between different generations and with the police, helping with social cohesion and a reduction in antisocial behaviour issues in the area, and are a wonderful example of the type of project that Crimebeat supports”

Nominations for the Community Awards are sought each year, with 2 individuals and one group winner being chosen from each of the four areas (Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham) that make up the now ceremonial preserved county of Clwyd.

The High Sheriff was delighted to have had a good number of nominations from a wide range of people and organisations and said “This is a wonderful reflection of the strength of the voluntary sector here in North Wales but it does make it very tough for the panel to choose the winners”.

Awards were presented in the presence of the Lord-Lieutenant, Henry Fetherstonhaugh OBE FRAgS, Superintendent Jon Bowcott and Special Constabulary Chief Officer of North Wales Police Mark Owen MBE,  Ashley Rogers - Chair of PACT (Police and Community Trust) and Clwyd’s Under Sheriff - Mrs Sarah Noton of Swayne Johnson Solicitors, past High Sheriffs, the Chief Officers and representatives of the four Voluntary Councils of the area and selected guests.

The winners of each area are as follows:

CONWY

Jenny and Hughie Fitzpatrick In recognition of their work to support the communities of Kinmel Bay.

Ann Vaughan In recognition of her work to support the communities of Bro Cernyw.

Incredible Edible Colwyn In recognition of their work establishing a number of community edible gardens in Colwyn Bay.

DENBIGHSHIRE

Nerys Haf Biddulph In recognition of her work to support refugee communities in Rhyl and Prestatyn.  

Malcolm Wilkinson In recognition of his work with Friends of the Ffrith and community groups in Prestatyn and Meliden.

The Denbigh Workshop In recognition of their summer school programme working with disadvantaged young people.

FLINTSHIRE

Stephen Jones In recognition of his work to support and promote disability sport in Flintshire and beyond.

Daniel Reynolds In recognition of over 15 years volunteering to support the young people of 1st Mynydd Isa Scouts.

RainbowBiz CIC In recognition of their work to promote diversity in communities across Flintshire.

WREXHAM

Caroline Richards In recognition of her work transforming the lives of young people through music.

Hywel Williams In recognition of over 15 years volunteering to support the annual Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Marford and Gresford Luncheon and Caffi Group In recognition of their dedicated work to support older members of their communities.

High Sheriff Special Awards were given to:

Anna Buckley In recognition of her tireless work to support refugees and victims of the war in Ukraine.

Sion Edwards and Nicholas James In recognition of their inspirational work with young people at The Venture Youth Inclusion Project.

AVOW Young Influencers In recognition of their work to support the young people of Wrexham.

High Sheriff’s Personal Awards were given to:

Volunteer Police Cadets – Brooke Blake-Hains & Steffan Lea

In recognition of their enthusiasm and commitment as The High Sheriff’s Cadets and as a valued members of the Clwyd Crimebeat Committee.

We Mind the Gap In recognition of their work developing programmes to empower, inspire and support young local people.

The DPJ Foundation In recognition of their work regarding Mental Health in rural communities,  supporting those with problems, raising awareness and providing  training within the agricultural sector.

Theatr Clwyd In recognition of their work with the Justice in a Day crime education programme and multiple projects benefiting the local Community.

Chirk Hospital’s Circle of Friends In recognition of their continued fund raising and improvements in equipment and services for Chirk’s community hospital and nurses.

Wrexham AFC Community Trust In recognition of the Club’s Community projects and social cohesion work.

North Wales Police’s Volunteer Police Cadet Leaders In recognition of the voluntary time given to support and inspire Volunteer Police Cadets.

National Garden Scheme North East Wales County Team of Volunteers In recognition of their work supporting the numerous NGS garden openings across the area each year, raising substantial sums for multiple charities

Wrexham Litter Pickers In recognition of their commitment to keeping local areas free from litter and building a stronger community spirit.

The High Sheriff ended by thanking Dawn Roberts-McCabe, the Chief Officer and Ken Rowlands of AVOW the County Voluntary Council for Wrexham who facilitated the nomination process this year.  She also added a large thank you to North Wales Police, PACT and Crimebeat North Wales for their unending engagement with the High Sheriffs of both Clwyd and Gwynedd.

Mrs Hill-Trevor’s tenure as High Sheriff of Clwyd commenced in April 2023 and will shortly finish as the post is for a single year. The Community Awards ceremony is one of the highlights of the Shrieval year and Mrs Hill-Trevor said “Clwyd really is very lucky to have such a strong and vibrant Voluntary sector. I certainly have been humbled and uplifted by everyone I have met during my year in office.

I hope that these awards will also encourage more people to give volunteering a go – there really is a volunteering opportunity out there for everyone and together we can make a difference.”

Following the awards, guests enjoyed afternoon tea and the chance to share stories of their volunteering journeys in the historic setting of Brynkinalt.