The Crewe Community Awards have been created to recognise the pillars of Crewe’s community for their contributions to the town.
This inaugural event in February 2025, hosted by the Mayor of Crewe – Councillor Dawn Clark – brought individuals and community group representatives together over afternoon tea to celebrate their contributions.
Eleven awards were presented in total, within seven categories, at the Mayor’s Chamber in the Municipal Buildings in Crewe.
The Community Awards Process
Local residents nominated individuals, groups and organisations for each award category as part of the Community Awards process. The full list of award winners is as follows:
Mayor’s Recognition Award: Community Volunteer & Inspiring Individual
Damian Palin (Ruskin Park FC)
For the past five years, Damian has given up his time to run a very successful football club, Ruskin Park FC. This provides low-cost, safe, fun football for over 300 children in the local area. Damian also runs the South Cheshire Youth League which enables over 1000 children around Cheshire to enjoy and play football in a safe environment.
Bernard Potter (The LATH Looking after the Homeless Group)
Fifteen years ago, Bernard formed The Looking After the Homeless (LATH) Group. The charity provides the basics to the most vulnerable people of Crewe, including hot food and drinks, warm and clean clothes, sleeping bags and tents. It also provides moral support. Coming up to his 97th birthday, Bernard still volunteers at LATH and organises the annual fundraising concert.
Kevin Edwards (Railway Cottages (Crewe) Residents’ Association and Friends)
Kevin is a stalwart of groups keen to improve the local area for the residents of Crewe. He developed a project for the long border at the end of the Railway Cottages to take an area of land and turn it from an unloved, overgrown and unusable area, to a haven for wildlife and the community.
The scheme is so successful, it has been used as a case study nationally by the Wildlife Trust and has even been featured on ITV Granada!
Derek Halfpenny (Friends of Queens Park Crewe)
Derek has volunteered at Queens Park for over 15 years, both as a voluntary fishing bailiff (offering advice and instruction to anglers and monitoring the fishing on the park lake) and also as a valuable member of the Friends of Queens Park. He has also spent a great deal of time designing and supporting projects like the Tree Trail and is currently working on a Guide to Queen’s Park.
Mayor’s Recognition Award: Outstanding Organisation/ Group/Charity
Stroke Survivors Speech and Language Support Group
Created in Crewe in 2018, the group supports those who have survived a stroke. Survivors are empowered to recover, reclaim and rebuild their lives and the group provides support and information to enable this process.
Volunteers help eliminate social isolation, provide a safe environment, peer support and practical tools to help rebuild confidence and develop new ways of communicating. The support extends to families and carers and works with the NHS to support speech and language development.
Young Achiever (Under 18) Award
Leading Cadet Rachel Sargent (Crewe Sea Cadets)
Leading Cadet Gabriel Wojcik (Crewe Sea Cadets)
Rachel and Gabriel are much-valued members of the Sea Cadets and exemplify the values the organisation ascribes to. Last November, Rachel and Gabriel were promoted to Leading Cadet which was not only a great honour for them, but reflected well on the Crewe Unit. Both recently entered a national competition, designing a Powerpoint presentation to advertise Cyberspace, and won. Gabriel also represented Crewe in the North West Area Rowing competitions and came away with gold and silver medals.
Project: Arts & Culture Award
Creative Crewe
Creative Crewe has delivered multiple high-quality events that have benefited the local community, helping enhance the wellbeing and welfare of the people of Crewe. Many residents and their families have enjoyed the fun activities they offer each year, particularly during the weekends and school holidays. They also provide an opportunity to nurture and encourage young volunteers, allowing them to develop their skills.
Project: Environment Award
Crewe Clean Team
Crewe Clean Team have gone above and beyond for wildlife, nature and the local environment. Their monthly litter-picks turn grot spots into beauty spots and help engage and encourage the local community to look after their environment. In addition, they have planted bulbs at Christ Church bringing joy to the residents and visitors each spring.
They are currently mapping trees, and the swift box project has ensured that a species that was in danger of becoming extinct locally can now thrive.
Project: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award
Alpha Omega (WPS) Foundation
This organisation has made a real positive difference and has had a significant impact on the local community since it was founded. It aims to support and empower women by providing a safe hub and space. Free self-defence classes are offered to women and girls and the group operates the Street Angels Scheme to ensure women are safe when out at night time. Women are supported with help and advice around housing, legal matters, counselling and business support which empowers women in Crewe.
Pride of Crewe: Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard Holmes (formerly of St Paul’s Centre)
Richard has been working in the charity sector in Crewe for the last 32 years and his extensive contribution has had a positive impact on the lives of thousands of local residents. Richard is particularly well known for his work at the YMCA and at the St Paul’s Centre. He has set up numerous initiatives which have supported and empowered local people and these include:
- emergency provision for young people facing homelessness in severe weather
- support for asylum seekers
- and housing support for those coming out of hospital.
In addition, he has cooked Christmas meals for residents for 24 years!
The winners of each category were selected by a judging panel which consisted of: the Mayor of Crewe (Councillor Dawn Clark), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Sally Graham), the Crewe Town Council Community Manager, the Crewe Town Council Events & Culture Manager and the Cheshire Fire Station Manager for Crewe and Congleton (Jo Watson).
The Mayor of Crewe, Councillor Dawn Clark, said:
“It was an honour and a privilege to host the recipients of the first Crewe Community Awards. There was so much positivity, respect and happiness in the room and it was fantastic to celebrate their achievements with the voluntary and community groups and individuals involved. We were also able to network and learn from each other’s valuable experiences during the event.”
A spokesperson for Crewe Town Council commented:
“We hope that this Community Awards event will be the first of many! Crewe has so much to be proud of and we wanted to recognise the people who make such a difference to their local community. It was a heart-warming experience for all involved.
Each nominee was put forward through an open process by the people whose lives they impact for the better. We were really impressed by the award winners and the efforts they make to ensure that their local environments are a positive place to live, work and thrive in.”
Kate Junory Lusar of the Alpha Omega (WPS) Foundation (winners of the Project: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award) said:
“Yesterday’s fantastic afternoon left me deeply inspired. It was a pleasure to meet so many remarkable individuals working towards lasting change in Crewe. I feel more motivated than ever, and the experience was truly empowering.”
