Carnforth community will remember that for 10 weeks between April and June, Carnforth Town Council requested nominations for the Carnforth Citizen of Merit Awards to recognise all those people who had gone that ‘extra mile’ to help others during the first lockdown due to COVID19. Now it's time to celebrate their achievements.
Given how Carnforth has always come together when needed, the Town Council were not all surprised to receive many worthy nominations for the Carnforth Citizen of Merit Awards. In the end over 90 nominations were received.
It was always the Town Council’s intention to present their Citizens of Merit nominees with a certificate and a gift to mark their achievement and the gratitude of the local community at an event and reception to be held at the local Civic Hall. Sadly, because COVID19 has lingered for far longer than anyone would have liked, this has not been possible.
Not to be beaten, the Town Council is now making plans to hold a special virtual event on Thursday 14th January 2021 (time of the event & details to be confirmed) with some invited guests who will add their own personal thanks to all the local heroes.
Nominations were largely made through the Town Council’s website and social media pages and now they need the help of the local community again to make this event the success it deserves to be.
A list of all the nominees has been posted on the Town Council’s website: carnforthtowncouncil.org and every one of them is asked to get in touch with their contact details and home address, so that the awards can be personally, and safely, delivered in line with government guidelines. At the same time, they will then be invited to the online celebration of their achievements.
Commenting on the community’s effort and the planned virtual event, Councillor Kath Bromilow, Town Mayor said:
"From very early on in the pandemic our local community has gone above and beyond to provide support and advice to our vulnerable residents. Within days of the first lockdown, on 23rd March, the Carnforth Covid19 Isolation Support Group was launched by Liam Law and Andrea Wren, two of our residents.
The Town Council soon backed them by leafleting over 3,000 properties, making the public aware of the services and assistance available, including shopping, dog-walking, food bank drop offs, collections of prescriptions, advice, information and business support or just a friendly voice on the other end of the phone.
But our Citizen of Merit Award winners are not just volunteers from the group, they came from every aspect of our local community and covered all ages – the youngest just 10 years old at the time!
Carnforth Town Council has always been proud of our citizens and local community but the COVID19 pandemic has taken this to higher level than even we had imagined! Relationships locally and across the district, with community groups, other parish and town councils and Lancaster City Council have been cemented and incentivised like never before – all to keep vulnerable residents safe and well, linked to the specific resources and help they needed.
Through the incredible efforts of volunteers and many more who are part of the Carnforth Community we were recently awarded a Covid19 Certificate of Recognition from the High Sheriff of Lancashire.
Well now it is the town’s turn to show our gratitude to every single one of our Citizen of Merit nominees at a special virtual ceremony on January 14th. I encourage all nominees to get in touch with us so that we can express our thanks for what they have done for others during these challenging times."
Nominees, or anyone who knows them should contact the Town Clerk, Bob Bailey with their address and contact details by email to: clerk@carnforthtowncouncil.org or by telephoning: 07846 256 006
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