Provost's Civic Pride Awards 2012
The finalists have been announced for this year's North Ayrshire Provost's Civic Pride Awards. It's now up to you to decide the five winners who will be presented with the coveted awards by casting your vote.
Voting closes at 12 Noon on Friday 16 March 2012.
Vote Now
Finalists 2012
North Ayrshire Community Group Award sponsored by Irvine Housing Association
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Ardrossan Youth Association gives young people the chance to interact with one another in a safe and friendly environment. During the summer, the group organises subsidised outings – giving young people the chance to visit places they may not otherwise see. Youth workers put a great deal of time and effort into entertaining the children while keeping them safe and off the streets.
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North Arran First Responders is a voluntary group which gives medical assistance to people who have taken ill or collapsed. Their main aim is to save lives and assist the ambulance service. The group formed as it could take an ambulance between 30 and 40 minutes to reach the north of the island from its base in Lamlash. An early response can often mean the difference between life and death.
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PRYDE, the Kilwinning youth enterprise group, have created The Playz - a community facility, developed and managed by youngsters aged 11-25. They have transformed an unused and unsightly public house into a fantastic asset owned and managed by the community. Directing the work of Board is an established Shadow Board comprising local youngsters who have been involved in the project since its inception, over 10 years ago
North Ayrshire Citizen of the Year Award sponsored by Marley Contract Services
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Sally Rodgers is the Caretaker at Castlepark Community Centre, Irvine. She instigated and helped bring to fruition the Community Garden at the Centre. Every week she prepares and cooks lunch for over 40 older people in the Third Ward. Sally is involved in many voluntary groups in the area, including the Pegasus Group for disabled adults. She has also set up 'The Zak Scott Braveheart Foundation' in memory of her grandson, who died aged just 14 from a heart defect. The foundation has raised thousands of pounds to help other people suffering the same condition.
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Jean Gilbert is at the heart of the community in Beith. Despite suffering ill health, Jean supports just about everything that happens in her area. From running a Brownie unit for over 20 years, Chairing the Access for All in North Ayrshire and Barrmill Community Association – Jean brings a positivity to any project she is involved in. She is also actively involved in many other groups, including the Garnock Valley Disability Forum, Greenhills SWRI, Ayrshire and Arran Health Board and Beith High Church.
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Margo Wheeler's leadership, optimism and skill have helped the Arran communities of Corrie and Sannox 'punch above their weight' for many years. Margo was key to the Millennium reconstruction of the local village hall, leading the community in its funding efforts. She also plays a significant part in the social life of the community –her firework displays being legendary. Her generous and unwavering support for a variety of local groups and ventures have helped many of them to be a big success.
North Ayrshire Young Citizen of the Year sponsored by Cunninghame Housing Association
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Aisling Finnigan has used her talents to inspire and support many other young people. Aisling leads dance classes for young girls through the Y-Dance Free to Dance programme. She has also taken part in the Closing Ceremony of the Delhi Commonwealth Games as one of the local Games Ambassadors. More recently she has volunteered to lead a group of young people who organised a new annual Duke of Edinburgh Award Ceremony.
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Teenager Amylee Brown has had a big part to play in helping to stop North Ayrshire's young people smoking. Amylee, from Barrmill, has worked with North Ayrshire Trading Standards to highlight the sale of cigarettes to under age young people. Part of this involves helping shop workers recognise those who are under age and who should be refused a sale. She also takes part in test purchases of cigarettes – something which requires plenty of confidence and bravery.
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Nairn McDonald works tirelessly throughout the community and as a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP). He is eager to help young people become more involved in the decision making process. He is also a member of the North Ayrshire Youth Council and Executive Youth Council Committee. Nairn's goal in life is to make the world better and a more open place he feels that young people should be involved in important decisions that affect them locally.
North Ayrshire Arts & Culture Award sponsored by Ancho
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Largs Players have performed their Comedy Theatre Summer Season for almost 20 years. For six weeks during the summer, the troupe perform at the Brisbane Centre in the town. When they began their run, Summer Season shows were still widespread. Today they are one of the very few to perform in Scotland – entertaining locals and tourists alike. The Players build the stage, erect the lights, set out the seats every night and members man front of house and backstage – providing a boost to the arts, culture and tourism.
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West Kilbride Community Initiative has played a pro-active role in the cultural and economic regeneration of West Kilbride. The Initiative has, through a series of projects and activities, promoted West Kilbride as a focal point for arts and crafts in Scotland. Creation of the 'Craft Town Scotland' brand has been instrumental in establishing West Kilbride at local, regional, national and international level.
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James Miller, from Kilwinning, was once described in a daily newspaper as the 'Matchstick Man' with an amazing talent for creating miniature models of historic local buildings. As well as building 70 churches in incredible detail, James has given up much time to Kilwinning and District Preservation Society and has welcomed thousands of visitors to Kilwinning Abbey Tower. His passion for local history hasn't wavered and he was instrumental in setting up the Kilwinning Community Archaeology Project.
North Ayrshire Sports Award sponsored by KA Leisure
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North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club was formed in 2004 in a one-table venue. It has now become one of the largest and most successful in Scotland. The club has introduced the sport to thousands of local youngsters, providing in-school demonstrations and exhibitions and launching after-school clubs. They now have a state-of-the-art 18-table centre at St. Matthew's Academy and have opened clubs in Fairlie, Largs, West Kilbride and Dalry.
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Aaron Horn first took part in Karate when he was just five. He gained his black belt when he was 10 and now travels the world competing at the highest level. Aaron, 15, recently went to Malaysia for the Karate World Championships – ranking 5th in the world at under-16 level. Aaron also represents the Scottish national team. Over the last year he has picked up eight major prizes across the globe.
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Irvine Bay Gymnastics Club was formed in October 2009 by a group of parents keen to expand on the gymnastics programme. Since then the membership of the club has increased from 12 to 120, with a waiting list of over 40 names. Classes take place throughout the North Ayrshire, all provided by volunteer coaches. Most of the coaching staff is made up by parents and older teenagers who have been members of the club. The club is also the first of its kind in Scotland to develop gymnastic classes for people with disabilities.
The winners will be announced at the Provost's Civic Pride Charity Dinner at the Seamill Hydro on Friday 23 March 2012 where they will be awarded with a trophy and certificate.
All money raised on the night will benefit two charities - Cash for Kids and Hollybush House – both of which support people across North Ayrshire. Cash for Kids supports vulnerable youngsters and their families while Hollybush House is an Ayrshire residential and treatment centre for Veterans run by Combat Stress.
View photographs from the 2011 event.