Community at Heart Awards 2021 winners

These awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of residents from across Broadland who go above and beyond to support others or complete incredible achievements.

The Community at Heart Awards 2021 winners are:

Clare Lincoln - Inspiration of the Year, sponsored by Clarion Futures

Clare runs the Sprowston Youth Engagement Project, a local charity that supports and enables young people. SYEP, provides a safe space for youngsters to socialise and learn new skills. In the last year, Clare and the SYEP’s projects have engaged 344 young people through a range of activities including an intergenerational community greenhouse project, and SYEP on Air, a series of podcasts focused on issues that affect young people.

Amber Sheehy - Young Hero of the Year (aged 18 or under), sponsored by HSBC

Amber was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour in June 2019. She endured a 9-hour operation and unfortunately contracted post op meningitis. She then needed to travel to Germany for 6 weeks to receive daily dose of radiation to her brain and spine. After her return from Germany, Amber spent 9 months receiving regular chemotherapy, but is now, is starting to regain her health. Amber never moaned or complained about being ill. She missed school, lost her hair, and had tubes in her nose and chest but she carried on smiling through it all. She is truly an inspiration to her friends, family and community and has gone on to raise £400 for a local cancer charity.

David Weaver – Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Price Bailey

Dave volunteers his time at Broadland Country Park. In the last year he has spent 602 hours undertaking wildlife surveys and habitat management. Over the winter of 2020/21 when COVID restrictions reduced the ability to have volunteer groups visit the country park, Dave continued to volunteer often on his own or with one or two others, continuing the critical work to restore the rare heathland habitat.

Annika Musgrave – Helping Hand Award, sponsored by Castlemeadow Care

Annika is a member of support group, Thorpe Helping Hands. In October 2020, she began supporting an elderly octogenarian gentleman over the phone whilst he was self-isolating and caring for his wife. Since his wife passed away, Annika continued to call him on a daily basis and visited him in hospital when she could, bringing him his mail, clothes and little food treats.

Taverham and Drayton Litter Pickers – Green at Heart Award

The Taverham & Drayton Litter Pickers’ 229 volunteers have collected over two tonnes of rubbish from their local area. They have dedicated almost 700 hours of their time to the cause since the group started. Their commitment makes the local area a nicer place to live both visually, and through the amazing community spirit the group radiates. It is an excellent way for families to spend time together, make new friends and have the opportunity to socialise with others who live locally, all whilst helping to maintain the local environment.

Marcus Pearcey, Blofield Farm Shop - Business Community Support of the Year

During the pandemic, Marcus and his team at Blofield Farm Shop arranged for vulnerable people living in Blofield and surrounding villages to have two course meals delivered every week. They even delivered a full Christmas dinner and a present on Christmas Day.

Thorpe Marriot, Taverham & Drayton Covid-19 Help Group - Community Group of the Year, sponsored by Co-Op East of England

This community group coordinated a team of volunteers to help those most in need in the local area. This includes going shopping, collection prescriptions, dog-walking and they have also recently set up their own food bank. The group has brought the local community together and when a call goes out for help, there is always an immediate response.

Lorraine Curston - Community Hero

Lorraine and staff at Dawn’s New Horizon have helped hundreds of families affected by domestic abuse. They supply food and household goods, including white goods to survivors who have been rehoused, as well as offering emotional support such as counselling to those who need it.

Emma Sturman - Special Recognition Award

Emma founded Norfolk Beach Cleans in January this year to encourage the public to get involved in beach cleans and litter picking. Emma is passionate about protecting the ocean, the environment and wildlife. She holds regular beach cleaning events or can be seen on her own wrapped up against the elements, beach cleaning at evenings and weekends. She also travels up and down the broads on her paddle board collecting litter from the water in a crate behind her.

Michael Snowling MBE – Special Recognition Award

Michael’s 23 years as a councillor saw him undertake a number of important council roles, including seven years as Chairman of the Planning Committee. Michael was a member who pushed the boundaries when rules and procedures seemed overly bureaucratic or unnecessary, and a man with a heart for his community and those in need. An example of Michael’s care for the community came in 2010 when helped an oversubscribed nursery in his ward find a new, larger base in a house he owned in the area. The new nursery premises were named ‘Snowy’s’ in his honour.