• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

Octogenrian Berta Leads The Way At NBS Cornerstone Awards

Byadmin

Oct 24, 2014

An octogenarian community campaigner has led a roll-call of everyday heroes from across the North East at a gala presentation evening held in their honour in front of around 200 people at the Great North Museum .

Newcastle Building Society’s annual Cornerstone of the Community Awards recognise the positive impact that individuals and groups have on the places that they live through their energy, enthusiasm and dedication.

Launched in 2011, the Awards cover four different categories, with nominations sought for each one right across the Newcastle ‘s branch network – and leading the way this year was Berta Walker, who picked up The People’s Choice Award, which recognises an individual who is a great ambassador for their local area.

Now in her late 80s, Berta continues to work tirelessly for the Whickham community in which she lives, helping to run theSt. Mary’s Day Care Centre, with which she’s been involved for the past 30 years, the local Red Cross branch and the Whickham Ladies Club, through which she regularly raises money for local charities.

Berta has also been a local magistrate, and was previously awarded an MBE for her community work.

The Young Person’s Award was given to 17 year-old Reece Dungey, who has been a member of the Children in Care Council in North Tyneside for five years, and has been involved with a wide range of projects aimed at improving and explaining the situations faced by looked after children.

He regularly meets with decision makers to improve services for these children, and was also instrumental in developing a modern room with North Tyneside Council where teenagers can meet with their birth families in an informal, private environment.

Seventy-nine year-old Frances Cleminson of Gateshead was named as the Parent/Guardian of the Year, having looked after her six children, five of her sister’s children, her mum in her final years and a number of foster children.

Described locally as a pillar of strength and a good angel, she has done all this on her own for the last 30 years after losing her husband, and also finds time to help to run a local community centre for children based in Benwell.

Finally, The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Team Award went to the Cornerstone Cafe in Whitley Bay , which hosts and is involved with a local group who support the rights of people with special needs.

The cafe offers a welcoming and friendly environment with staff who are dedicated to supporting their customers, and has earned its place as a unique resource in the local community.

The Cornerstone Awards are part of the Newcastle’s ongoing Cornerstone Of The Community campaign which enables individual branches provide support to good causes in their local areas in a variety of ways, from carrying our fundraisingactivities and holding in-branch events to donating time from the working week to help them out.

Organisations which have been adopted across the Newcastle ‘s 30-strong branch network include community hospices, schools and a range of regional and national charities.

Natalie Falkous, head of corporate social responsibility at the Newcastle , says: “Our Cornerstone Awards always unearth some amazing stories of community dedication from across the region, and this year has been no exception.

“As part of our commitment to mutuality, we’ve always worked hard to support the communities in which we operate, and the wider Cornerstone campaign allows us to do this through supporting groups which mean a huge amount to our customers.”

By admin