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A host of ‘community stars’ have been recognised in a virtual award ceremony held to celebrate the efforts of people in the community throughout 2020.
The Community Star Awards, which was held on Tuesday night (March 2), was hosted by Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen Community Council.
The community council asked residents to nominate people they felt had gone above and beyond to support others in Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Graig y Rhacca over the course of 2020 – a year which saw Storm Dennis flooding and the coronavirus outbreak.
Among the winners was Reverend Dean Roberts, who won the Chair’s Award of Excellence and Achievement.
Rev Roberts was recognised for setting up the CARE Project -a food parcel project which was set up at the start of the coronavirus lockdown.
As part of the CARE Project, a ‘food hub’ was set up at St Thomas’ Church in Trethomas.
Rev Roberts set up a website where people could request food parcels or support, assembled a team of hundreds of volunteers and created three part-time jobs for young people in the process.
BTM Community Councillor Amanda McConnell said: “Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and Graig y Rhacca is truly an amazing community and an inspiration to us all.”
Cllr Chris Morgan, chair of BTM Community Council, said: “I’m proud that our council has led the way during the epidemic by continuing meetings via video and now arranging this successful awards evening. We haven’t stopped supporting our residents at all.”
Who were the winners?
Staff at Trethomas Tesco for delivering food parcels to vulnerable people during the pandemic.
Robert Kerr and Liam Williams for removing a tree which had fallen due to bad weather from the Bryn, Trethomas.
Lawrence Newman and Ffion Holly Terry Rowlands helped clear up debris left behind by the Bedwas traffic lights after the Storm Dennis floods in February 2020.
Stephen Willey and his team at Machen Co-op for delivering food parcels and donating food to The CARE Project, as well as donating Easter eggs to the Bedwas childcare hub, which was set up for the children of key workers and vulnerable children.
Roger and Alec Devney at Machen Stores for delivering food parcels to vulnerable people.
Trethomas Bluebirds AFC raised £1,500 for Anuerin Bevan University Health Board and donated surgical masks, gloves and sanitiser to Trethomas-based Cymru Care and the CARE Project.
Gareth Williams of the Bedwas childcare hub at Bedwas High School, which was set up to look after the children of key workers, as well as children deemed vulnerable, while schools were closed as a result of the pandemic.
Andy, Lucy and Caden Evans have helped Machen residents with food shopping and picking up prescriptions during the pandemic.
Pete Forward, DT technician at Bedwas High School, made hundreds of face shields to be given to care homes.
Jenny and the team at Trethomas Spar have provided home deliveries for vulnerable customers and supported residents with fundraising events.
Amanda Nott helped raise money for Bedwas Infant and Junior Schools, supported homeless people and runs the Bags of Kindness food parcel scheme in the BTM area. Also held a fundraiser at Bedwas Workmen’s Hall for residents affected by the flooding.
Tracey Foster played an instrumental role in setting up and running the Operation Santa BTM 2020 event, which saw hundreds of Christmas goody bags handed out to children in the area by Father Christmas and his helpers.
Mia Beachey created and runs the voluntary group Caerphilly Scrubbers, which was set to up to make and distribute sanitary clothing for healthcare workers at hospitals, care homes and doctors’ surgeries.
Graig y Rhacca Community Association have delivered food parcels to vulnerable people, collected donations for hospital staff working in intensive care units, and have been running the Fairshare Community Fridge at Graig y Rhacca Resource Centre.
Sisters Amelia Grace and Elena Rose spent their own pocket money making small gifts and hiding them around the BTM area. They also helped paint their grandfather’s bedroom while he was in hospital with Parkinson’s disease. On top of this, the sisters collected donations for the CARE Project.
Karen Evans and Kate Evans set up the ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ activities. The pair made and left gifts, such as painted rocks and crocheted items, for people to find along popular walking routes in the area.
Karen Watson volunteers with the CARE Project, delivering food parcels, collecting prescriptions and offering support to the community. She often arrives at the food hub, at St Thomas’s Church in Trethomas, early and stays behind late.
Rhys Griffiths, an A-level student who is one of the longest-serving volunteers at the CARE Project, has given up much of his free time volunteering.
Karen John, has volunteered as a call handler for the CARE Project every Monday, which is the busiest day for the scheme. She is one of the longest-serving volunteers at the project.
Darren Shaughnessy is a delivery driver for the CARE Project, delivering around ten food parcels per run in his van. He has been out delivering food parcels in all weathers.
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