Blog » 2020 Love Local Award Winners: Lockdown Local Heroes

2020 Love Local Award Winners: Lockdown Local Heroes

Now it’s time to celebrate all the Local Heroes During Lockdown 2020.

This is the 8th Winners Blog – All the Lockdown Local Heroes – these men and women deserve some real recognition!

See if you or anyone you know was nominated below.

Remember to check the other winners blogs HERE and check back each Monday and Thursday through July to see if you were nominated in any other categories too.

Initially we said that we would only publish the nomination comments when we got 5 or more but having read them all, we’ve decided to ditch that rule! Everyone who received a nomination deserves to read their message/s of thanks & support!

Thanks to our amazing sponsors in this category, Little Green Rascals– we have some lovely certificates to give out to all nominees. We hope that it will be a lovely reminder for you in the future about how grateful the York community are for everything that you do and how much you have meant to them during lockdown.

If you are a nominee & you would like to claim your certificate then please fill in this quick form here so that we know where to send it to!

If you are a winner, feel free to DOWNLOAD OUR WINNERS BADGE to display on your social media too. If you tag in @yorkmumbler then we’ll share it too.

If you know any of the nominees, please be sure to tell them they’ve been nominated! We want to spread this lovely news far & wide.

Love from Emily & the team at York Mumbler x

P.S Coming next on Thursday 30th July is the final Celebration Blog “Rainbow Award” nominees.

Alligator Wholefoods

Stayed open and helped the community as long as they could

Catherine Stephenson

For bringing the community together during lockdown by organising the Rawcliffe Scarecrow festival and helping to raise over £730 for NHS and COVID 19 local charities
My mummy did scarecrow festival and we did a farmer and gave out sweets for children. It was really fun! She’s the best mummy!
She designed and organised the scarecrow festival in Rawcliffe for the key workers which was a huge success over lockdown and raised over £700 for charity. Was in press TV and radio York.
She has helped to bring the community of Rawcliffe together through this hard time. organising a scarecrow festival that raised money for the NHS charities. It was a great idea that got people talking to to people, they didn’t know brought smiles to faces and left a lasting desire to continue to have more community spirit.

Christine Durrant

Christine even though was isolating at home with her husband she has been making numerous upon numerous masks for anyone & everyone. She has given so much of her time & for free. They were free or if anyone wanted to donate, the money would go to St.Leonards hospice. She’s been amazing.
Whilst self isolating/My mother in law has taken it upon herself to make nearly 2000 face masks in her craft/sewing room (at her own expense) and made them available for free to anyone that wants them. She has provide them for key workers, shop workers, delivery drivers and many more (she even placed a sign on her cottage in New earswick inviting passers by to knock on her door and receive masks for free if they need them) Christine (and her husband Will) have been locked down for 3months due to their age/health but they have wanted to help anyone they can when they can….Christine deserves the recognition as she has really struggled with lockdown as she has 2 sons, a daughter, 5 grandsons and 3 granddaughters that she used to see regularly and she really misses the cuddles and kisses from everyone!

Ciara McCabe

Ciara – Has volunteered to help many local people in Haxby during lockdown, she has been so kind to me as a small business owner, she has been delivering my online orders twice a week which has helped me enormously , I offered payment for her time but she wouldn’t hear of it- she genuinely wants to help the community… with a big snails looking very glamorous in some amazing outfits!… she’s been my hero for sure
Doing shopping and delivering for many people. Keeping multiple cub packs occupied every week with innovative zoom events.

Dave Godfrey – Number Fun Live

Dave has worked tirelessly through lockdown to bring over 50 free youtube videos helping to teach young children Mathematics. Number Fun has run as a business for 21 years. Dave should have been travelling the country as a maths consultant supporting teachings in the classroom whilst being paid but he decided to use his skills to support home schooling and all for free.
Dave and the Number Fun live produces daily 1/2 hr programs throughout lockdown for Key stage 1 kids to access and promote their number skills and learning whilst being home schooled. The daily session provided some structure to the mornings and some activities to try in the afternoon.
Great online YouTube Number Fun Live Sessions
His online classes EVERYDAY kept routine to our day – absolutely brilliant!

Door 84, St Thomas’s, Bell Farm Social Hall

Delivering food parcels and providing free food and produce for families in the Groves all throughout lockdown.

Eddie from curious coffee

He’s worked all hours making brownies and pizzas and coffees! Totally fun guy too! His insta posts make you laugh!

Emily Deckers – Starseed Catering

For fundraising and making 540 meals for keyworkers and providing delicious delivery and takeout meals to brighten peoples day throughout lockdown
Fundraising and providing food to NHS hero’s
Providing not only meals to keyworkers, but home delivered delicious, nutritious meals with a huge smile. Oh and fantastic vegan options too!
Raising money to provide meals for nhs workers over lockdown

Emma Hartley-Tiny Tumblers

During Lockdown, Emma has reached out to her loyal customers in numerous ways. One such way was to send worksheets, activities and Certificates to all families with children that have previously supported Tiny Tumblers.

Emma Mawer – Sharing Life

Sharing life organiser Wheldrake. Wow this lady has done soooo much to ensure those that need help got it.
Emma has coordinated the sharing life COVID crisis and has been amazing. She has organised Weekly food parcels for 50 households, with a coordinated team of volunteers in, For the last 14weeks and has tirelessly worked through all the hurdles to make Sharing life such a success. Thank yoy
They set up a food delivery program to get weekly food parcels out to anybody in the village that needed help. As well as linking people together for help with medicine collection, lifts to the doctors, chats… the list goes on. You’re truly inspirational and have made sure everyone had somebody they could turn to for help

Fantasy cheer senior coaches

Lily and Beth Hall, Tia and Megan England, Erin Dominguez, Neve Cottle These girls have helped Natalie coach the classes throughout lockdown and sent the girls notes and tips to work on in their own time They are all amazing!
All the above are from fantasy cheer and dance they have all helped with entertainment my daughter through lockdown offering lots of support and online zoom classes.
Erin is a coach for fantasy cheer & dance. She has helped my daughter out so much over lockdown, sending her video tutorials, and always offering advice. She is such a lovely young girl. With so much passion.
For being such an inspirational coach to all the fantasy girls and for her hard work and zoom classes over the lockdown.

Fields Garden Centre

I believe they have been a lot of peoples Lockdown hero’s when most garden centres and local hardware shops we’re closed these guys were sticking to the rules and taking orders over the phone and started to deliver people all their gardening things. Well done guys and thank you x

Frank Who runs the village shop in Rufforth.

He always has everything you can’t find in supermarkets- eg flour!

Gayle Farrington of Treasure Chest Breastfeeding Group

Treasure Chest run a monthly breastfeeding antenatal workshop and the March one was due to take place just as the country was going into lockdown. Gayle did not bat an eyelid and moved the whole thing onto Zoom while the rest of us were still figuring out what Zoom was! She has run the workshop every month since, doing a fantastic job to help families get the information and support that they need to get feeding off to a good start. Well done Gayle, you are amazing!

Gentle Beginnings

Dorothy Marlen from Gentle Beginnings Dorothy continued to provide support and guidance at no charge to all the families who previously attended her groups. She’s self employed as a sole trader but put the families’ needs ahead of her own, thank you.

Haxby Bakehouse

How lucky are we to have this amazing local business?! Haxby Bakehouse have absolutely worked their socks off throughout lockdown providing an awesome delivery device of their amazing produce through these crazy times. It has been the highlight of each week to receive my delivery of their incredible sourdough along with other pastry treats. In addition to providing this amazing delivery service to their customers they have also been part of the Supper Collective supplying bread to go with soups and other dishes and treats for the NHS and volunteers. Absolute superstars!

Hillary Patchwork Platt

Helping out the Bellfarm community. Providing food parcels and making sure she available to help in any way she can
She has gone beyond what is expected, she and her team have helped provide constant support, food parcels and care through out lockdown, she is an amazing lady.

Jane – Cakegirl

Jane has worked so hard throughout lockdown to cook and nutritious, healthy meals and lovely treats. She at arted the business at the beginning of the year and many people would have given up but she’s worked her socks off and lots of people who wouldn’t have been able to get the supermarket have benefitted. I am sure Cakegirl will be a really successful local business.

JC Barbers

Jen Colleen and Nicole JC Barbers Keeping lads and dad’s smart and happy mum’s and partners. Hero’s in there own way by dealing with all the men 🤣

Jimmy Plat

From the start of lock down he has been delivering food parcels and bringing the food to bellfarm social hall

Joanna Heard

Joanna has worked tirelessly throughout the lockdown period, caring for her clients who have learning disabilities. She has worked long hours in difficult circumstances, always putting the needs of her clients first. Thank you, Jo!

Joy Photography

Lucy took doorstep photos for people to raise money for Food bank. We got some lovely photos and were more than happy to donate to a great charity.

Julia at Pig and Pastry

For setting up and raising thousands for the food delivery service to the vulnerable and isolated with other local suppliers/restaurants across York.

Kelly Clarey – Pat Veale School of Dance

From the onset of lockdown PV School of Dance, and our fabulous Kelly Clarey, have continued to run online dance classes for all ages from the comfort of the children’s homes. Thus enabling them to continue to pursue their passion, dance with their friends, express themselves, maintain confidence, spend time with their adored dance teacher, feel valued, supported and loved through this difficult period. We are so blessed to have Kelly and the school helping to keep our childrens’ minds healthy, happy and active when everything else around them is falling away – it can only be of great benefit to them in the future. And #dadsdancingday was fabulous – testimony to Kelly’s draw and children’s adoration of the art form, that had so many Dads dancing with their children in celebration of Fathers’ Day yesterday 20th June 2020!! Kelly is an absolute superstar ⭐

Key Workers

YOU ARE ALL AMAZING. THANK YOU.

Kimberley Robinson

She has gone above and beyond to help myself and my family as well as others to shop and cook for everyone.

Laura Jenner

She’s an ICU nurse at York Teaching Hospital & cared for so many Coronavirus patients. She contracted the virus herself and thankfully was able to return to her patients quickly. She spent hours on end in hot, hindering PPE, caring for people she didn’t know and showing them kindness, maintaining their dignity, treating them with utmost respect and grace. All this on top of a very young family at home, homeschooling and worrying for her loved ones who live abroad. She’s a beautiful soul.

Laura Wingrove – York Suzuki Early Childhood Education

This class has kept us going throughout lockdown. Laura has put her classes online twice a week completely free of charge, found creative ways to replicate all the musical activities, and also to engage every single child individually. During this difficult time her classes have been a real lifesaver. It’s also been lovely to see the children actually continuing to progress in tiny ways week by week, so it’s been great for their development even though she hasn’t been able to teach in person.

Leanne Anderson – Poppleton

Leanne was a real hero in my eyes, a lady we did not know before Covid , but a life saver during lock down, we will be forever grateful for the care she showed for us , a friend indeed.
She has cared for everyone in our street. Every request for help was answered quickly, she organised a skip for garden waste. Kept in touch with a dedicated what’s app and ensured our diamond wedding was celebrated in an appropriate lockdown way so that it was a really happy day. Before the pandemic we had never spoken, now she is a true friend to us all.
She has been caring for everyone in our street throughout the pandemic, what’re task was asked of her she did it straight away. She arranged a lockdown celebration for our diamond wedding so we didn’t miss out and has cheered everyone up no end. We didn’t know her before the pandemic but now she is a true friend. Ps. This is the second nomination from me but I didn’t add her address first time.
Fantastic support for the local community during lockdown, shopping, organising events, setting up social support on a WhatsApp group and much more besides!
For her amazing support, advice and calmness, to anyone needing help during the lockdown.
For providing a service for the residents of nether way poppleton. Shopping, collections of prescription, delivering vulnerable packs and for her friendly disposition. Helpful to all, as well as looking after her own 3 children and shielding husband.
Leanne is a lady we did not know at all , yet has become a real friend , the help she gave us during lock down was incredible, she organised the delivery of our food , fetched our medicines , and even decorated the front of our house for our diamond wedding anniversary, she is a real gem.
Leanne set up a WhatsApp group in our street and was just wonderful with information and advice. We were all united with her help.She really deserves this award
Leanne volunteered as warden for our street and has cared for us all throughout the pandemic shopping, checking all is well, organising a skip for garden waste and collecting all our bins to ensure social distancing. Organising our diamond wedding celebration involving everyone so we didn’t miss out and giving us encouragement to go out in our own front gardens To meet at a distance. Organising a What’s app to keep us all in touch. Didn’t know her before but she has been a true friend.
She has been a superstar looking after our street in lockdown. Nothing was too much trouble for her!!
The most amazing help just at the right time and galvanised the whole street! Exceptional and lovely person XxX

Leanne Landers

Went out of her way to support our needs during lockdown, superstar!!!
She volunteered to be the named person to be responsible for our street during lockdown and she has been amazing. She set up a WhatsApp group and has been proactive throughout, offering all kinds of help, information and activities.

Lindsay Wright – Once upon a Thyme flower company

Lindsay is the owner of once upon a tyme. Lindsay made thousands of rainbow bow’s for a charitable donation for the NHS. Lindsay raised over £2000 for York Hospital during this pandemic, by making bow’s for people’s front doors. It took a huge amount of time and effort on her part.
Lindsay Wright is a local florist who’s business is called once upon a thyme During lockdown she worked non stop making rainbow door bows to raise money for York teaching hospital, the final total reaching £2442.78 She also raised over £600 for the charity type 1 diabetes families by making VE bows Lindsay worked for hours on end making these as well as still trying to run her business and being a full time mum .. I personally feel that what she achieved was both selfless and inspirational
She raised money for York hospital by making bows.
Lindsay spent days and days making door bows to raise money for ydh and type 1 families charities. Making over £3000 between the 2 charities
Lindsay Wright is the owner of once upon a tyme. During this pandemic Lindsay made thousands of rainbow bow’s for people’s front doors. Lindsay only asked for a charitable donation and raised over £2000 for the NHS York hospital. It took alot of time and effort on Lindsay’s part. Lindsay did a fantastic job.
making 1000s of bows to raise money for our NHS during lockdown
Making up rainbow and V.E day bows to raise money for the NHS and a children’s diabetes charity
She raised over 2000 pounds for the nhs selling rainbow bows to put on front doors for a donation and also sold red white and blue bows for ve day to raise money for diabetes

Louisa Stevens

For raising over 2k to provide meals for key workers
Organised a meals for carers initiative in york and coordinated over 500 meals for NHS and care workers during the pandemic. Wonderful!
She fundraised over £2000 to pay for frontline workers to have meals delivered
She raised over 2k to provide meals to key workers

Mandy Hume (Poppleton under Fives)

Continued engagement with children throughout lockdown. Took time and effort to ensure children were provided with craft activities and a familiar face at the door brought a big smile on my daughters face. Thank you Mandy for thinking about us all.

Matty Lewis

Single dad extraordinaire! As well as time for his lad, he\’s made time for fellow users of the Menfulness group alongside writing poems which have gone viral and appearing on breakfast telly! The man has smashed this lockdown! 👌

Melissa & Karen at Lockdown Luxuries

Melissa Brichieri-Colombi and Karen Boyes have been baking their socks off. They took nominations every week for people who deserved a bit of a pick me up, and delivered them amazing bakes.
They started out using their own money, delivering boxes of cakes to those in need/those extra special people during lockdown. They then set up a just giving page and also asked people to nominate someone they knew they felt deserved this special treat. The person nominating gave address details for the recipient so the cakes could be delivered as a complete surprise. This got so big that Melissa and Karen spent all day every Monday baking and Tuesday delivering, as well as having to parcel up the cakes and get helpers to assist with delivering. They did all this purely because of their kind hearts and to see the smiles on peoples faces. They truly deserve this award. (I nominated my sister who is a Carer and my Mum nominated her friend because her and her hubby were unable to leave the house due to Cancer & Parkinson’s).

Mrs.Rebecca Main

Becca is our vice chair on our local community associations and mum to 5 amazing children 4 have additional needs .She has been arranging ,collecting and distributing food parcels/ boxes to our local community for people in needs families ,elderly ,vulnerable etc anyone one in need while caring for her family too.Becca also as health issues of her own but this has not stopped her helping her community , the support she as given as been gratefully received and much appreciated and as realky brought the community together .We’re all so proud of her she does this for no recognition but would be nice to say thanktou

Natalie Bell

For Keeping the little lambs flag flying every Thursday morning, we appreciate the routine.
For starting busy hands – a free online toddler group with songs, stories craft and baking. All whilst heavily pregnant x

Natalie Lyon

Because she has given all the girls in fantasy something to look forward too. They all love the girls and all the girls look up to Natalie and the coaches……. they get the best out of them and we couldn’t have done without them through lock down. Thank you so much Natalie and all the coaches. You are an inspiration 💜💜💜
For being amazing and helping everyone find ease during this time!
Natalie is the owner of Fantasy Cheer and Dance and has been providing FREE on line Xoom classes for all teams since the beginning of lockdown ; up to 3 a day, every week day! She does all this in her spare time while looking after her own family and home schooling them and working nights as a key worker!! She is amazing and has kept the team focussed and motivated while making the classes fun! My daughter has really benefitted from her time and dedication as it’s given her something to work towards and look forward to each day! Natalie is an inspiring coach and the relationship she has with her teams is like no other – they adore her! She absolutely deserves this award 🥇
On top on being the owner of fantasy and providing free online classes to her club and others around york she also worlds full time as a key worker and looks after her family. She always puts others Infront of herself.

Nick Shipley

Nick has been a true local hero through lockdown, combining being Fulford’s very own Spiderman with impressive running challenges that have seen him raise tons of cash for local charities.

Nicola Betts – Tiny Toes Music & Wellbeing Choir

Does a Tiny Toes music session stream every Thursday morning since the beginning of lockdown
For ten weeks during lockdown, every Sunday Nicola brought together the neighbours along her street for a sing along session – no matter the weather. The sense of community this has fostered has been wonderful to see and the enjoyment has been evident with further streets joining in as the wind direction has allowed!
For ten weeks during lockdown, Nicola organised and performed a street sing in her neighbourhood, bringing joy and comfort and raising a lot of money as well for charities. She is a remarkable lady and so deserves this Award. She just spreads happiness everywhere.
Organised Street singing for all her neighbours producing the songsheets to sing each Sunday, providing the music and getting everyone young and old to join in.
I miss the weekly choir sessions as singing together helped to lift my mood. The atmosphere is very friendly and Nicola has a way of getting us to work hard but yet find the whole event enjoyable. She is cheerful, lively and really knowledgeable. we laugh a lot!!
Our daughter in Law Nicola Betts who directs Tint Toes Music has continued to keep in touch with her little people via Zoom during lockdown. She has also organised street sing along every Sunday for 10 weeks. Lifting the community spirits in very uncertain times.
It was started to help people with their well being. It fosters friendship & helps with loneliness. Its so important , but because of lockdown & ongoing restrictions it’s not able to restart.

Nigel Poulton – The Island

For all of his hard work and effort too support many families young people volunteers and staff during a difficult time! Nigel has packed and purchased supplies for hampers going out to over 100 vulnerable families a week during this pandemic and his efforts are endless! Hes continuously supporting this most vulnerable through his work, his personal life and in the community! He is most certainly a hero to many
Nigel changed The Island charity overnight to provide a food bank for The Island’s vulnerable families. There was no question of simply closing down the charity, instead he has embarked on working long days loosing out on family time to ensure other families have the food they need in order to thrive during these uncertain times.
Nigel from The Island has gone to extraordinary lengths and despite the lockdown rules being lifted he continues to support the most vulnerable of families. In March, he changed The Island (in the interim) into a food bank service and spends every single day in the supermarkets, delivering food and other vital goods cross York. He also raised £50k so that he could guarantee healthy and nutritious food as well as set up a 24/7 phone line to support York’s most vulnerable families.
Nigel has done an amazing job providing endless support to many families across York and putting endless effort into keeping the hampers of hope going.
Nigel has gone above and beyond to ensure that The Island runs as smoothy as possible. Nigel has been in supermarkets 7 days a week buying food for over 170 families to ensure that on a fortnightly basis, York’s most vulnerable families are getting a huge hamper of fresh, cupboard, frozen, essential food items as well as, games to keep the families busy and together, essential hygiene items, luxury items like facemasks. As well as educational items like revision books. Nigel has covered every avenue in the hampers and the families are so grateful for the hard work and all they receive. It has been a huge help to families that have been shielding or where having the children home, finances have been tighter than usual, though no fault of their own! But Nigel has helped ease these pressures and supported the families through this extremely challenging time!
Nigel has helped vuneral families across York, including myself and 4 children due to them loosing their dad 4years ago and not having any other support. Providing food hampers, craft hampers and supporting us anyway he can, going above and beyond. He is amazing and has definitely made york a better place during this pandemic making sure vulnerable families don\’t go without. The continuous support I\’ve had from nigel has made a huge difference to our lives so for me and many other families
Nigel has worked tirelessly through lockdown to raise thousands of pounds for the vulnerable children and their families who work with The Island. He has organised and personally distributed hundreds of food bags every week and has spent hours every week shopping for food and essentials for York’s most vulnerable young people.
Offered amazing amounts of support to hundreds of disadvantaged families across York offering hampers of hope week in and week out. Also he is always going the extra mile to help every family he can with whatever they might need.

Phil Huyton

Our milkman, continued throughout lockdown, always smiling. Extra deliveries of milk, eggs & butter!

Rachel Elliott and the team at Wheldrake Preschool

Throughout lockdown, Rachel and the team at Wheldrake Preschool have been in daily contact via the Preschool’s Facebook group, on Tapestry, and personally in video calls. They have posted videos of themselves reading books and doing craft activities, which my daughter (aged 3) has absolutely loved. Seeing Helen, her Key Worker, reading her a story has allowed much needed continuity of care that was very welcomed. Even better were the frequent activity packs delivered to our doorstep: bean growing, cress heads, painting, we’ve been able to continue the pre-school fun at home. In among all that work, Rachel also had time to organise a sponsored bounce-a-thon with the pre-school children via Zoom, raising well over £700 to support food parcels for vulnerable individuals isolating in our village. Amazing work.

Rebecca Brown – From Pass the Party

Local GP, mother of 4, just returned from maternity to help with Covid treatment and organiser of the York Scrubs effort, bringing together many local small business to make scrubs.
Rebecca is not only a mother of 4 and a doctor recently returned from maternity leave to help care for those suffering from Covid -19, she has also coordinated the York Scrubs project, bringing together countless York business’s to provided much needed scrubs, masks and other essentials to those on the NHS frontline

Rosie – Fodder & Forage greengrocers

Delivering out fresh fruit and veg and beautiful flowers to brighten my lockdown days

Roxy Hurst

Roxy sang for our neighbours and set up a GoFundMe page, raising almost £1000 for York Teaching Hospital

Ruth Thompson from YIK YAK

Ruth who runs inspirational kids has kept the face book page updated and information for families going despite many other problems she has endured in her personal life during lock down and also introduced a new page for the kids to interact on
Sarah Van Wyck and Dr Rebecca Brown Mobilising a team sewing scrubs for the hospital, Martin house and other health care facilities around York. Now they are working on face masks. They have organised purchasing material, donations to the fund and the cutting of material, sewing of scrubs and delivery of the various constituent parts and completed items all over York and the surrounding area

Sharing Life Wheldrake

Sharing Life and the parish council coming together to provide weekly food parcels for the elderly/at risk residents in the village. Supported by volunteers in the village, the initiative has kept lots of people who would otherwise struggle through lockdown, going.
A fantastic organisation that has organised the village of Wheldrake to create an army of volunteers and identified those in need during this period. Sharing Life have organised and delivered food parcels, collected and delivered food parcels, and supported residents in a number of different ways. Their support has been invaluable to so many people.

Simon baynes and his workers at Millies

Simon and Leanne have a wholesalers and a fruit and veg shop. When corona virus started a lot of people had to shield and couldn’t leave their house for anything, including shopping. The millies team were fantastic. They stepped up and supported the York community by delivering fruit, veg and food boxes. When we had to isolate for 2 weeks we were so happy to get our wonderful deliveries. The staff are always so helpful and friendly!

Snappy Staff

The snappy staff have worked throughout the pandemic . They have looked after disabled Children from key worker and vulnerable families . They have worked long hours before and after the Children attend , preparing for them . In addition , they have kept in contact with all those families who haven’t been attending , through social media and home visits . The very genuine love and care for the families from all of the staff and volunteers has never been more prevalent .

Street singing in Acomb

Lifting the spirits of friends and neighbors whilst having a socially distanced sing

Sutton upon Derwent COVID19 Support Group

In late March just as we were going in to lockdown one of our residents contacted me as chairman of Sutton Upon Derwent Village hall to suggest that together with the Parish Council we should set up a support group in the village This resulted in a flyer being put together a volunteer with a mobile number. Flyers were printed by the school and volunteers delivered to all the houses in the village Within a week we had over 20 volunteers. To date they have carried out over 150 missions ranging from shopping, prescription collection and even dog sitting The good thing was that most of the usual people involved in the community were in the vulnerable group, these were new people who had not done anything like this before The group are still going strong I am encouraging some of the people who used the service to nominate them hope they have more success than me
Over 20 volunteers shopping, collecting prescriptions etc. We have been shielding for 12 weeks and without them we would have had great difficulty.
The cheery smiles, lovely chats and nothing is too much bother, have all added to the invaluable assistance offered during this time. In addition, the group have offered to continue to provide any help as long as their assistance is required, regardless of the easing of lockdown rules.
The support group have gone above and beyond offering support with food orders for those not having internet access and being unable to visit the shops for themselves due to shielding. Medicines have also been delivered and this has been an enormous help in alleviating worries for family living too far away to help during lockdown.

Tamar Driscoll of Tamars Toybox

All through the lockdown she has delivered children’s activities and presents to their homes while her shop has closed. And now doing outdoor pop up shops in local villages.
During lockdown Tamar has laid a number of themed trails around Bishopthorpe to interest and engage the local children during their daily exercise. She has opened the shop by appointment or delivered pop up partiy goods so children have been able to celebrate their birthdays during lockdown. She has been there for the children of Bishopthorpe and surroundings in anyway she could help in these times.nothing was to much trouble.
For all of the local child friendly trails, kept us entertained for hours x
For being their and never complaining
Tamar has been an amazing support during lockdown, posting games around the village with her daughter, giving away free puzzles, setting up treasure hunts and delivering toys locally to keep the kids going. Such a local hero 👏
Tamar has supported many people in and around Bishopthorpe through the lockdown – supplying lots of lockdown birthday party essentials and also checking in on many elderly residents.
Tamar is a people person and her shop is a hive of activities. Being closed has not stopped her from offering activities to children in and around Bishopthorpe. Using her 1 hour of exercise each day she set up hunts and trails around the village for children to enjoy during their activity time. She made activity packs and offered these for delivery around her local area too to keep children engaged. She regularly posted ideas of activities to do at home using stock cupboard items and her daughter to demonstrate in her videos. She has maintained contact and encouraged people to stay engaged with her which her customers old and new have relished.
Taymar has been such a hero through lockdown! Knocking door to door seeing if anyone needed any shopping or a bit of a lift or a treat! What a star 🌟
Home delivery of party packs for our little ones who have had to have lockdown birthdays this year.

The Bin Men

They are super cheerful, even though they have to go out, rain and shine, to empty smelly bins. Little one loves to wave at them and they always wave back!

The Supper Collective

Amazing set up by a bunch of very generous business owners wanting to help in time of need.
For coordinating the Supper Collective to cook and deliver nutritious meals to the vulnerable in lockdown.
Julia & Steve from the Pig & Pastry have once again showed their sense of community when they set up the Supper Collective. A group of volunteers who have cooked & delivered meals to people in isolation, who are vulnerable & staff at NHS! Amazing group of selfless people.
Well organised and tasty food. We would have been lost without them
What an amazing thing they have done to support vulnerable people during lockdown.
Feeding literally hundreds of York people
Ama ing to see so many local restaurants work together to provide meals for the vulnerable during lock down. They gave really shown the meaning of community in York.
Excellent businesses doing fabulous things. Such a good idea.
For all the restaurants involved and for steve and Julia Holding to come up with the idea and then lead it to huge success feeding 100’s of vulnerable people across York and feeding the frontline staff.
For doing such great work in helping get decent meals out to the vulnerable, and to the NHS.
Providing free nutritious meals to the vulnerable during isolation.
For providing an incredible amount of meals to the local area during lock down – I can’t believe what they’ve achieved. It’s inspiring.
For providing free meals to the ill, vulnerable and NHS.

Thomas Leggott

For keeping clubbercise, pound and rave tone going 7 days a week. Always having a smile on his face and being there for each and every one of us

Tracey Deacon

Tracey has run the Danebury drive food bank since the beginning of lockdown. Every day she sources fresh produce to give to those in need. She has 100s Of families on her books receiving help. The care packages go out each week. She also sources local help for people and works with other charities in the area. Rain or Shine tracey and her team are there

York NHS

Because they’ve been amazing
Needs no explanation.

York Scrubs

Becky and Sarah have lead a team of 300+ local people making PPE primarily for York hospital but also for GP practices, community NHS teams … over 2,800 sets of scrubs in 10 weeks. Becky and Sarah have young children and balance their families with work, and leading and inspiring the team who sew, drive, deliver, organise .. and do everything they can to help our NHS staff to stay safe.
A group of vunteers working tirelessly to provide Scrubs and other PPE for York hospital and other essential workers. Amazing effort and coordination. They really deserve praise.
Almost 3000 sets of Scrubs for NHS and carers sewn with skill and love, by 300 ladies across York. Hundreds of face masks still to come. Led by Dr Becky Brown, Sarah Van Wyk, Rachel Simpson, Jo Barrett, Sal Wilson and assisted by many volunteer drivers and admin helpers. All busy people with families and jobs who have given time, talent and tireless effort to support the front line Covid 19 in York.
Amazing local effort providing vital kit to those who need it who are also our local community and neighbours.
Because they’re amazing! Volunteers have now made and delivered nearly 2000 sets of scrubs to York Hospital, St Martin’s Hospice, midwives, surgeries across the area. Now working on masks…and the organisation didn’t even exist pre-covid.
For seeing the immediate need for scrubs at York hospital in April and within days a team of volunteers had been recruited by Dr Becky Brown who was on maternity leave – over 2000 scrubs have since been made and delivered to York hospital / Martin House Children’s Hospice / and many other health care providers and settings across the city.
Incredible scheme providing scrubs all over York and the surrounding areas
Such an awesome job of providing over 2500+ medical scrubs to Hospital and clinics
They have a team of 400 volunteer seamstresses and drivers and have delivered nearly 3000 sets air scrubs to the local NHS and repaired 650 surgical gowns in the height of the Pandemic when Other supplies were not available, providing essential protection to frontline workers
They have done an absolutely amazing job producing scrubs and face masks for NHS workers and other key workers. Not just the sewing itself but all the behind the scene work, organising, delivering and collecting of materials.
They have done an amazing job giving up their spare time making and distributing much needed scrubs to healthcare workers in York.
They have worked tirelessly to supply scrubs, wash bags and face coverings for York Hospital and other health care providers.
Voluntary seamstresses, designers, IT experts, packers, delivery drivers and fundraisers ably led by Dr. Becky Brown produced over 2,600 sets of scrubs for York Hospital, hospices, surgeries and care homes in their hour of need together with 600 amended surgical gowns, hundreds of laundry bags. They have started on masks which are an ongoing project.
We’d have had hospital staff working in bin bags/waterproofs or pj’s without them……
York Scrubs are the kindest group of volunteers that have come together to help our community during this pandemic, they are all wonderful x
York Scrubs have been led by local GP Rebecca Brown and Thimbelina owner and seamstress Sarah Van Wyk, and together with an army of over 300 volunteer cutters, sewers and logistics drivers and coordinators, have produced almost 3000 pairs of scrubs, around 2000 of which have been received by York District Hospital, the rest being delivered to Martin House children’s hospice, Wheatfields Sue Ryder hospice in Leeds, and numerous other practitioners in our community during the pandemic. I have been a volunteer driver of fabric and I am SO proud to have played a tiny part in this amazing endeavour. Both ladies have busy careers and are mums to small children, they are truly inspirational.
For building up a strong local network of people meeting the massive need for scrubs/ppe required during the COVID-19 through a bank of volunteer manufacturing administrative and delivery personnel.

Yorkey Dads / York Menfulness

Can’t understimate how much this has meant to me, having a positive impact on my mental health and being able to have this kind of support available. I’m close to very few people, but those people mean everything to me. Over the past 12-18 months I’ve embraced change and made some brilliant new friends along the way. Dads, who experience the same joy and challenges, we all do. Whether it’s down the community allotment, squatting at Social Circuits on a Tuesday night, being part of a 6-a-side team that gets hammered every game (we WILL win one day soon) on Wednesdays, running my arse off chasing round a football on a Thursday night with lads, much younger, most fitter and far more talented but I appreciate being able to have the opportunity to get out of my house and socialise. It frees up my mind for an hour or so, which really helps with my mental health. It’ll be good to get back to it all, once lockdown restrictions are lifted further and maybe get out for a proper socialise with and without kids, once we’re all able to do so safely. Yorkey Dads & York Menfulness has been a catalyst in helping me to feel more positive and confident to socialise again and to interact with other Dads by building up a support network where opening up is encouraged. We were just gaining momentum with lots of exciting projects when Co-vid Lockdown halted proceedings. BUT that didn’t stop us from sharing our stories through social media and Whatsspp Groups. Genuine lads looking out for one another, with no judgement – through plain talking, kindness, humour, banter, advice, support and genuine friendship. Some are truly inspiring and I’m proud to call them my friends. I’ve built more genuine relationships with people by being open about my struggles than I ever could have pretending like I had it altogether. I’d been invited to be a part of something pretty special that is soooooo out of my comfort zone, but was well worth it. Proud to have been asked, proud to be a small part of it and incredibly proud of how it turned out.🤞 https://youtu.be/7cq2k1Wzdsg
During the lockdown these two organizations that work together to help fathers and men have been helping everyone to go through this, and have organized a lot of different ways to stay connected and not leave anyone behind (for single fathers it has been especially rough). They created a STRAVA running group to stay connected while running, a virtual pub quiz, a series of videos from a personal trainer on how to keep moving during the lockdown, free counseling by managing a partnership with Serendipity, constant whatsapp talking and support in case is needed, allotment to work on toghether to get the mind off things, and finally a social distance walk to have some real contact while staying safe at distance
For support, guidance and friendship they have been given men in lockdown. Changes all their groups to online and social distant. These include #A very successful poetry group. There poem #Dads has been viewed by million people #Strava online running and cycling groups #Menfulness Youtube channel with their very successful YoureNotAlone campaign #Online circuit class #Social Distance Social Circuits #Free counselling fund for men
I’ve watched how they have grown their services through lockdown and it’s amazing what passion they have for helping men that struggle with mental health. They are volunteer led and so to fund free counselling sessions for men with no waiting list – I was gobsmacked. Menfulness also began a strava running group and a WhatsApp group for people to reach out in. The activity list they have for men, for free is extremely valuable for the male community in York!
Providing a great platform for dads and men in the York region to access support, advice and friendly chat during the lockdown period. Great ideas like the allotment and access to counselling services have proven a great help to some men struggling with personal issues. All done by a group of lads in their free time, looking to help the community and provide support in an inclusive, non judgemental way.
This group has just been a game changer for me and I know a lot of other local chaps too. A virtual place we can go to get advice and support or just to vent among like minded people. No judgement, just acceptance. Long may it continue! ❤️
Top fellas: Free Mens Counselling with Serendipity #Poem films stuff. The #Dads poem and #Men talking revolution #Allotment Wankers (dont say wankers in the nomination) # Menfulness Youtube support, for fitness, working from home advice, poetry and our YoureNotAlone campaign
Keeping dad’s/men going through lockdown with quizzes, chats, fun, activities and moral support (and counselling).
The WhatsApp and Facebook group allows us to keep in touch and talk about stuff that\’s going on with us and provide a support network for anyone struggling. This has been even more valuable than ever during this time! The organisers are already working on an allotment for another way for people to engage once restrictions have eased up.

2020 Love Local Award Winners: Lockdown Local Heroes

Now it’s time to celebrate all the Local Heroes During Lockdown 2020.

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