Community Champions 2018

Sean suffered serious neck and spinal injuries playing football for his local club and thought he would never walk again. His determination to defy the odds saw him regain his ability although he is unable to run or play.

He decided to put his incredible energy and his love for the game to great use and created the Cerebral Palsy Football Club for anyone with the condition or brain injury.

Through contacts with football clubs in the north west, Sean has been able to facilitate visits by football stars to training sessions and arranges visits to the grounds.

Rotary clubs in the area sponsor the teams and are delighted to be part of such a great charity.

After spotting a significant number of elderly people in the area suffering with stress brought on by financial worries, social isolation following the loss of a spouse or friend, coping with aging and physical limitations, she set to work creating projects which support within the community.

In 2006, Sade set up the Pennu Charity. The charity has raised funds for a memory café and a recreational centre where many activities take place.

These events have sparked an interest for more with residents asking for opportunities to socialise, meet new people and find information.

The events have also helped people to cope with key dates such as birthdays of lost loved ones, which can bring painful memories.

Paul and his wife transformed a service with a small group of volunteers into a major charity which responds to calls from the NHS for blood supplies.

The team ride motorcycles to collect and deliver urgently needed whole blood, platelets, samples for analysis, medication, patient notes, small medical instruments, donor breast milk, etc.

The out-of-hours provision is delivered free of charge and relies purely on donations.

Howard experienced a difficult childhood leading to taking drugs. Punishments followed and his life hit rock bottom.

At the age of 36 he made the conscious decision to give back to the community and stay away from drugs.

His transformation from addict to prison mentor has not been an easy one but the journey was vital.

He is able to understand the inner turmoil of people in similar positions to his own and now delivers the local Rotary programme: You Can Change at the Parc Prison in Bridgend.

Howard helps people realise that change is possible and they can have a life within the community with a future undefined from the past.

Pauline and Alan joined forces in 2000 when they were part of a group heading for the Revival Centre, a rehabilitation unit in Ukraine, which Pauline had become involved with a few years earlier.

Revival is a 60 bed hospital/ children centre/ community centre for the treatment of children where they receive physiotherapy, speech therapy, dental treatment and more.

In 2003, Pauline and Alan formed their own registered charity.

Three to four times a year, they adventure in vans and trailers carrying approximately seven tons of donated aid to the centre.

Treating a fantastic 2000 children a year has led to 27,000 children benefiting since opening.

When she sadly lost her daughter, Louise, she devoted her time to improving the care of families and patients facing end of life care.

Roberta believed that when a patient reached a point where they were told that there was nothing the hospital could do, something should fill that void.

She works hard to make sure patients and carers are looked after until the end.

There are now 27 services available at the Louise Hamilton Centre, named after Roberta’s daughter.

After working with victims in her community, she set up the Dorchester Women’s Refuge. Her determination has made a huge difference to the many women who need the safe haven.

She went on to establish more safe areas, with education programmes and support networks.

Her kind nature led to supporting those who have escaped, allowing them to move forward with their life.