Mayor's Civic Service & Community awards 2025

On Sunday 4th May 2025, Witham Mayor Cllr Lucy Barlow held her Civic Service and Community Awards at Witham Rugby Club. Dignitaries from across Essex attended, as well as nominees and members of the public.

Young Person’s Award goes to Anastasia for her breakfast bar initiative

When Anastasia was at Howbridge Junior School, she saved her pocket money to buy breakfast bars to help some of the children who start school without a breakfast or snack.

The Environment Award goes to the Witham Hub Youth Group for their crisp packet initiative

The Witham Hub Youth Group showed outstanding contributions to sustainability and community support through the Crisp Packet Project when they transformed empty crisp packets into foil blankets for the homeless.  They not only addressed the pressing issue of homelessness in our community but also creatively repurposed materials that would otherwise contribute to landfill waste. This initiative highlights the power of recycling and serves as a poignant reminder of how a simple act can have a profound impact on the lives of others.

The Community Award goes to Emma Burgess, Coach at Witham Rugby Club

Gemma has been pivotal in promoting girls’ rugby in our local community.  She has taken time off work to go into schools to run clubs for free to encourage girls to join, she gives up every weekend to go and support our girls and coaches them weekly. Thanks to Gemma, the number of girls attending rugby has quadrupled.  Gemma is a great support for the girls and a wonderful mentor. 

Long Service Commitment to the Town

Lorne Campbell, Special Inspector, Elder at United Reformed Church and Leader of 2nd BB, in recognition of all his roles over a significant number of years and the impact he has made to the town.

Special Award

Paul Wiseman, Street Warden, for going above and beyond his role and making a tremendous difference to particularly the retail sector in the town.

Awards to Community Specials

Community Special Sergeant Simon Jesse for the hours of volunteer service to the town and to Community Special Constable Claire Eaketts for her commitment.

Home Start – Special Award

Georgina Emerson has been a Home-Visiting Volunteer for Home-Start Essex for the last 10 years. She has supported families in the home with well-being, parenting and loneliness. She provides a listening ear, is non-judgemental and kind, building up strong safe relationships with the parents and their children who are under 4 years old. Her support allows families to connect with their local community and feel a sense of belonging and pride in their abilities as parents. She puts in routines and boundaries for the families she supports and guides them through the challenges of parenting and in particular supporting those families with neurodiversity.

Alongside this Georgina has been doing some fundraising for Home-Start and is taking part in the London Marathon this year dressed as a Flamingo to raise vital funds and awareness of the Home-Start network.