Volunteers' work acknowledged at ceremony (From Warrington Guardian)

Volunteers' work acknowledged at ceremony

1:30pm Saturday 31st October 2009 in News

A GROUP of community research volunteers had their hard work developing future plans across Warrington rewarded at a ceremony.

Twenty-two residents completed their training earlier this year as part of a scheme to provide communities with improvement projects.

The initiative was carried out by Warrington Wolves Foundation, Warrington Borough Council and Mind the Gap, an organisation that supports individuals and groups with practical development and change.

The ceremony took place at The Halliwell Jones Stadium with Clr Liz Smith, executive board member for neighbourhoods and communities, Jane Critchley, the council’s neighbourhood manager and Ben Westwood, first team Warrington Wolves and England rugby player, presenting certificates signed by Manchester Metropolitan University.

The researchers work with residents to establish the key issues for people in their neighbourhoods. Their findings shape the development of area plans.

Residents in the centre and east of the borough worked on the history, activities and community use of the Orford Neighbourhood Project, positive and negative aspects of young people’s behaviour and environment and public transport links in and around Birchwood.

Residents in the south and west worked on future developments of Dorchester Road Boat Park, community mapping and potential improvements in Stockton Heath and development and environmental restoration along the south bank of the River Mersey.

Volunteer Kathryn Wrench, aged 34, of North Road, Orford, said: “It was a brilliant course to go on and gave us the chance to focus on the positive. It was good to celebrate the area instead. It was a fantastic experience.”

Dr Scott Jones, director of Mind the Gap, said: “The residents on this course have been simply amazing, partly because of what they are already doing and partly because of the way they used the course to develop new and exciting initiatives and ideas.

“Their energy, skill and abilities have shone through in all their work as confidence has grown – as well as a terrific sense of fun and achievement.”