Morrisons names Community Award Winners

Morrisons in Kingsbridge has given four community awards, a People’s Choice Award, an Organisation Award, an Eco Warrior Award and a Local Hero Award.

The People’s Choice Award went to Andrew Dyas of Dyas & Sons Removals.

Andrew and Liam get their award from Community Champion Ben Holt 

Suzi Colton approached Andrew to ask him if he would take some donations from Kingsbridge to Dartmouth, as part of a collection headed to Poland for Ukrainian refugees.

Andrew said he would make the run himself and organised collections, the storage and then sorting before personally delivering to Poland three times with his son Liam with the option of doing it again if it is needed.

Morrisons Community Champion Ben Holt said: “Andrew was nominated as a hero by seven people for all the help he has done for Ukraine, but as he got a few nominations he became the People’s Choice.

“Thank you Andrew and Liam for all your hard work.”

The Organisation Award went to Kingsbridge Food Bank.

Lauren Taylor receives the award on behalf of the Kingsbridge Food Bank from Community Champion Ben Holt

The Organisation Award was for a charity or a community group that does outstanding things in our local community.

Kingsbridge Food Bank doesn't just help people with food, they help people with furniture, clothing, pet food, someone to talk to and their mental health.

Ben said: “As the food bank was nominated for the award for being the Community Champion for the Morrisons Kingsbridge store for the past three years, and I've seen what they do first hand, I know they had to be awarded for all the help they do for our local community.

“The pandemic was hard for everyone, especially for those who lost their jobs and big families. They were helping about 50 people a week then it went up to about 800 people. Morrisons were donating a pallet a week to all the food banks on a weekly basis and then started the food bank bags for the customers to purchase and still doing the bags two years later.

“Thank you to everyone who buys the grab bags for the local food bank. We have a great little community.”

The Eco Warrior Award went to Gary Jolliffe of Till the Coast is Clear.

Gary Joliffe receives his award from Community Champion Ben Holt

Gary and Till the Coast is Clear was nominated for the Eco Warrior Award for not only starting the charity but because he gets so many people involved as well.

Ben explained: “Till the Coast is Clear is the local pollution recovery Community Interest Company with projects including beach clean ups, and clean ups in rivers and even our estuary in Kingsbridge. In January, Gary and his team helped to clean out the estuary and they pulled out two Morrisons trolleys using a specialist boat.

“Thank you to Gary and his team for helping to keep our wildlife safe with their eco events. Follow Till the Coast is Clear on Facebook to see all their amazing and hard work.”

The Local Hero Award went to Laila Williams for saving her mum's life.

Laila and her mum Claire receive their award from Community Champion Ben Holt  

Laila Williams, 6, from Ivybridge, kept calm and called her Nana when her mother, Claire Williams, was having a medical emergency at home on 22 April.

Talking about that fateful night, Laila explained: “Mummy was breathing too fast and panicking. She was really ill so I used her phone to call Nana, who called an ambulance.”

Ben Holt, Morrisons Community Champion, said: “Morrisons wanted to celebrate our local heroes and Laila was nominated. I heard about her bravery and how she helped to save her mother's life by phoning for help at the age of just six-years-old so Laila had to be our local Morrisons Hero.

“When Laila came to collect her hamper, I could see how proud her family was of her. Well done Laila.”

Read Laila's full story HERE.