A COMMUNITY champion who has provided essential care for vulnerable people in Lymm during the coronoavirus pandemic has been honoured with a top award.

Anna Leaver is one of the driving forces behind the Leave No One Behind in Lymm (LNOBIL) campaign, ensuring people have received weekly meals and welfare visits over the past 12 months.

In recognition of her contribution and support, she has been awarded the High Sheriff of Cheshire’s Award for Community Service.

Despite working full time at Westbrook-based Alpha Bio Labs, Anna has been a key member of LNOBIL, which was set up by a group of Lymm residents at the start of the first lockdown, and she is an area champion looking after a group of street champions.

Anna’s nomination for the prestigious award highlighted her management of the meals campaign, where vulnerable people were supported by a team of volunteers, and also her role as a key coordinator of the food distribution scheme, collecting donated items from shops and other suppliers and delivering them to those in need.

Since March last year, hundreds of food parcels and more than a thousand meals have been distributed within the community with Anna being a vital member of a hard working team.

Anna said: “I feel very humbled to have received this award as there are so many people involved of all ages doing things that make a positive difference for others.

“There is a wonderful team of delivery volunteers who take hot meals to the elderly, vulnerable or isolated residents each Sunday.

“We’ve done this since April with many of the recipients becoming friends and for whom the ‘knock on the door’ has become something they look forward to each week.

“For some, this might be the only time they get to see or speak to someone in person and it’s so rewarding for everyone involved.”

She added: “I moved to Lymm with my husband 18 years ago and I feel privileged to have met and volunteered with so many incredible people as part of the Leave No One Behind in Lymm campaign and the community spirit continues to grow.”

LNOBIL collects unsold food from The Co Op every day for the community food box scheme and volunteers also help other charities such as The Hope Centre in Partington and Warrington’s The Room at the Inn.