24/12/2024
As we wish all our hirers and visitors a Happy Christmas, we are also pleased to bring this end of 2024 news:
Volunteer of the Year Award- Sheila Hawkins.
Community projects in Broadwindsor Group Parish were well and truly put on the Dorset Council map, with the recognition of Broadwindsor resident Sheila Hawkins as one of only a handful of recipients of the Dorset Volunteer Of The Year Award 2024.
Sheila has been, alongside many other amazing volunteers in our parish, a driving force behind so many community projects that have shaped Broadwindsor and surroundings into the lovely place it is to live. Not content with involving herself with the administration, fundraising and grant applications behind many of the projects, Sheila is well known for also getting her boots on and mucking in with the physical work to actually make things happen, as well as galvanising other members of the community to join in with her!
Established or completed projects that Sheila has been part of making happen include: Comrades Hall air source heat and solar panel retrofit, Bernards' Place playground equipment, Beaminster Area Eco group projects (including leading the Broadwindsor Tree Nursery project), Broadwindsor Allotment Group, Great Big Dorset Hedge Project, our Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), and work with Dorset Wildlife Trust to get Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) designation for the southern compartment of Hursey Common.
She also remains active with a number of ongoing projects and programmes: Broadwindsor Group Community Land Trust (CLT) in Drimpton; community engagements for the Parish Council Climate and Ecological Emergency Group; leading Hursey Common work parties; and coordinating the National Trust Heritage Archeology Ranger Team who undertake condition surveys of ancient monuments, including the local hillforts - Lewesdon, Pilsdon Pen, Lambert's Castle, Coney's Castle and Eggardon - as well as other features such as burial mounds and WWII coastal fortifications.
The award ceremony took place at the end of 2024, with an evening celebration event at the Volunteer Centre Dorset in Dorchester. Sheila took to the stage to receive her award certificate from His Majesties Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Mr Michael Dooley LVO MMs FRCOG. A number of different volunteer categories were awarded and celebrated on the evening, but the breadth of Sheila's involvement within our community was recognised by the encompassing 'Volunteer of the Year' title.
As it is Sheila's preference to get on and do things without calling attention to herself, we are thrilled that her dedication, time and efforts have been formally recognised, and that for once she is unable to hide away from the limelight. The community thanks you for all you do, and we look forwards to seeing what your next project will be!
