TO celebrate its 10th anniversary, Cheshire Community Foundation (CCF) has presented eight prestigious awards to charities and volunteers who have made a huge impact across the county.
The awards were presented by Lady Redmond MBE, HM Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, at Cheshire Community Foundation’s President’s Awards at Abbeywood Estate in Northwich.
The event was sponsored by Artorius Wealth Management, and attended by the winning charities, as well as the community foundation’s trustees, generous donors and supporters.
Guests heard about the decade of fundraising and grant-making by the foundation, for projects which have touched the lives of more than one in 10 people in Cheshire.
They report having already awarded £370,000 in grants this year, bringing their total to £10 million since the foundation began.
Zoe Sheppard, CEO of Cheshire Community Foundation said: “As we celebrate 10 years of our foundation, we also welcome Her Majesty's new Lord Lieutenant, Lady Redmond MBE, as president of Cheshire Community Foundation.
“Over the past decade we have seen incredible growth, survived political turmoil and a pandemic, and today we’re stronger than ever.
“As the country’s youngest community foundation, we had a lot of catching up to do, but Cheshire is a generous place and many of our first donors are still with us today, supporting their community and trusting us to identify the priorities in every locality.
“Our beautiful county is often misunderstood - it has unique challenges and people facing real hardship.
“But it’s also a place where kindness blossoms, where thousands of everyday people volunteer their time to help others, and where innovative charities work strategically to tackle the toughest issues.
“I’m proud of our team and our network, and I’m excited to see what the next decade brings.”
The charity awards were presented to Bare Necessities Toiletry Bank, for their Give A Smile oral hygiene project through food banks in Cheshire East, AmaSing Arts, for inspiring communities through song and arts in Cheshire West and Warrington Voluntary Action, for their role in creating the Warrington Food Network.
Ten-year partner awards were presented to Just Drop In (Macclesfield), CHAPTER Mental Health (Ellesmere Port) and Warrington Youth Club (Warrington).
Chris Purslow, a long term supporter of the community foundation and many Warrington charities, was invited to take the honorary role of Vice President of CCF.
The assembled guests were also moved to a standing ovation when a Community Hero award was dedicated to the memory of Nick ‘Hoppy’ Hopkinson – former High Sheriff of Cheshire – and presented to his wife Lesley Hopkinson.
Current High Sheriff of Cheshire, Jeannie France-Hayhurst was in attendance, and announced Cheshire Community Foundation as her nominated charity of choice.
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