CH64 Community Volunteer Awards 2025

The awards ceremony for the CH64 Community Volunteer Awards 2025 was held at Neston Civic Hall on Friday 16th May and what a phenomenal evening it was!

This was the second year of the awards which was started back in 2024 when NCYC and Shop 4 Neston decided to organise an annual event to recognise and thank all the wonderful people in our community that volunteer their time to make CH64 the fantastic place it is!

We had 37 nominations across the 6 categories and the winners of each category were decided by the nominees.

The winners of each category were:

Inspiring Individual

Chris Lett - Chris runs the local Ukes group 64N’ukes entertainers, and this group helps its members combat isolation, reduce stress, makes them happy and introduces them to new friends. The group performs in and around our community and all over the Wirral, frequently raising money for charities. Chris never sings her own praises and everything she does is with humility.

(Inspiring Individual Award winner, Chris Lett and Kris McFarlane from Shop4Neston who presented the award)

Community Pride

Zoe Weaver - Zoe has provided free first aid training via her business 'Above all first aid' to the local community which is invaluable. She also maintains several defibrillators in Neston.

(Community Pride Award winner, Chris Lett and Rachael Furey from NCYC who presented the award)

Business in the Community

Nisa - West Vale - The family and their team provide an essential local shopping experience for a large number of local residents. Older people especially appreciate the extra service given - deliveries to the housebound, keeping stock of items they buy regularly and daily newspapers. Nisa have a community fund and the Friends of West Vale and Flint Meadows have benefited from this. The staff are always willing to pass the time of day with customers who might not see anyone else all day.

(Business in the Community Award winner, Paul Kenny (Nisa West Vale) and Cllr Keith Millar who presented the award)

Young Person

Jasmine Franks - Jasmine has joined the Children & young person's panel at NCYC and has taken a senior lead in the group. Her confidence has grown in the position and the group and has helped inspire the younger member of the group. She created an excellent poster to advertise the Family Flicks Event which has helped reach a wider audience. Jasmine has also stepped up and taken a lead in presenting to a group of adults regarding the lack of support for children in her area regarding Safeguarding. She was the youngest presenter at the event, and she was also the only person who presented on her own and not in a group.

(Young Person winner, Jasmine Franks and Mayor Sion Jones who presented the award)

Sports and Arts

Dom Roberts - Dom helped set up junior park run for the young people of Neston and leads this as a race director. In 2024 it reached the 200 event milestone. Come rain or shine he checks the course and marshals this event every week, with a team of helpers. It’s a huge benefit to the health and well being for the young people of Neston.

Dom was unfortunately unable to attend the awards evening, a photo of him receiving the award will be added shortly.

(Cllr Martin Barker who presented the award and Civic Hall Operations Coordinator Paula Prytherch who compered the awards)

Unsung Hero

Ron Bird - Ron is a long time member of friends of lees lane ponds. He has worked his socks off both with the group and in his spare time, keeping the carpark clear of greenery overgrowth, and has led the push to keep the pond paths in suitable state for wheelchairs. he has built an extra bench where one was needed, and took charge of organising tools in the cabin, keeping them repaired and clean. when out and about he makes it his business to note jobs that need doing and makes sure they get done. he always chats cheerily to visitors, encouraging them to join the green gym. he has given his time generously to the maintenance of the park for donkeys years just quietly getting on with it and would do anything for anyone in need.

We are all extremely saddened to hear the news that Ron passed away on 26th April, his award was accepted by his wife, Ceinwin and grandson, Harrison.

(Unsung hero winner, award collected by Ron Bird's family and MP Samantha Dixon who presented the award)

A final award was presented to an individual who has worked tirelessly over the years

Outstanding Contribution

Pat Wood - Pat is a long-standing member of the community who goes that extra mile to help everyone. Pat has been greatly involved &volunteered over the years in -

Ness Gardens, U3A, The Civic Society. Pat writes poetry and organises poetry reading fundraisers. She also volunteers at St Johns \Hospice memorial services.

Pat has been heavily involved with Brownies & girl guides and is now still a member of the Trefoild Guild.

Pat dresses the Blue Bicycle window for every occasion.

Over the last 50 years Pat has had her finger in many pies and every job you could have within the flower society.

This lady goes above and beyond to help wherever within the community!

(Outstanding Contribution winner, Pat Wood and NCYC CEO Rachael Furey who presented the award)

Everyone had a fantastic time with people stating, 'We didn’t know quite what to expect but found it most entertaining. There were so many volunteers doing invaluable tasks for the community. In this day and age where volunteers are generally hard to come by, it is very reassuring to to find so many still able and wanting to give of their time so willingly.

Thank you for cherishing this valuable resource in our community.'

'Still in shock! what a lot of hard work went into the evening, well done everyone!'

'An excellent evening, and very worthy winners'

A huge thanks to our staff team and fantastic volunteer events team who helped make this event possible.

Thank you to Hip&Harmony choir for the wonderful entertainment.

Thank you to Col Harthman for the photography.

Thank you to Neston Flower Society for the flower display

Thank you to the following for funding the awards:

Shop 4 Neston

Cllr Louise Gittins

Cllr Martin Barker

Cllr Keith Millar

NCYC.

Thank you to Tig for the beautiful flowers and thank you to The Craftsman for the awards.

See you all next year! We will open for nominations in January 2026 so please keep an eye out for posters around Town and our website and social media pages for more information.