DEPICTIONS OF DN TOP LOCAL HEROES
Over the last few weeks the people of Doncaster have had the opportunity to vote for their favourite stories as part of the Depictions of DN campaign with Right Up Our Street.
The top local heroes will take part in a film shoot with artist James Lockey as a way to profile their work and celebrate their achievements, collaborating with Hayley Youell. The film will be featured in this year’s DN Festival of Light.
Charlotte Wigglesworth
“She loves the friendly community of Thorne. She has faced difficulties with drug shortages, increased prescription volumes, more minor ailment referrals, increased delivery demand. Some abuse from patients She’s had to manage patients fears and anxieties. But she has also experienced many positives: many lovely understanding patients, a great working team who have embraced the challenges and knuckled down. Lots of treats from patients.”
Sarah Fletcher
“She is a Senior Leader in A Primary School in Doncaster. She has worked tirelessly through out the pandemic. She is a wonderful daughter mother wife and sister.”
Stacey Grime and COLLEGUES AT DBTH HOSPITALS
“Working full time plus overtime throughout a pandemic is tough. My colleagues have gotten sick, two colleagues in my hospital have even died from Covid. I am tired. I’m not on the front line, I can’t even imagine what that must be like. But I do think biomedical scientists working behind the scenes are forgotten about. So to all my workmates, you’re doing an amazing job and you’re all heroes in your own right.”
Chris and Ian
“I would like to nominate Chris and Ian from Flintwood Church for the Right Up Our Street Award. The couple have been undertaking food shopping on a weekly basis to shielded / vulnerable residents throughout the pandemic to ensure that they don't have to leave their property unnecessarily. The group have been doing this in their own time along with having to do their own shopping, this has been of a great support to vulnerable residents during the pandemic as some residents do not have family who are able to do this for them, the residents they have supported are very grateful to Chris and Ian.”
Karen Lanaghan
“I nominate Karen Lanaghan, Lead Nurse for End-of-Life Care at Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals for her tireless work and determination in continuing to help patients and families throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Initiatives included the use of Tablets & Ipads to keep loved ones in contact when physical visiting wasn’t allowed, and many other ideas such as appealing for people to make matching pairs of hearts and sending one out to patients during their stay and the other with a card to relatives.”
Congratulations to the top ten! A member of the Right Up Our Street team will be in touch soon with further details. Thank you to all who submitted the fantastic nominations over the last nine months. Doncaster is full of local heroes!
Emma Lucy
“Emma is part of the wonderful team at Communication Specialist College Doncaster. Emma has been running fantastic ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ sessions on the College Facebook through live videos during the lockdown period. Focusing on all things mindfulness and yoga!”
SUSAN DURANT AND THE TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS
“Susan and the amazing team of volunteers have been working delivering over 7000 food parcels throughout the pandemic. The food parcels have been done through the charity ‘Moorends Miners Welfare & Community Development Centre’ which Susan manages.
Susan says ‘The volunteers are the real heroes as without their commitment we could not have provided the support that we have to our local communities’. We also delivered activity packs, put Easter eggs in food parcels and for vulnerable pensioners delivered cupcakes, cookies and roses on Valentine’s Day with special festive hampers at Christmas with cards made by the schools”
Helena Honeybone
“We nominate Helena Honeybone who has been headteacher at Town Field Primary School since 2016. She has worked tirelessly since the onset of covid, not pausing for holidays or weekends, to ensure that the school's families are cared for. She has driven efforts to provide quality home education, organised access to devices and along with the school senior leadership team has provided in person support to families in need, whether that be through checking in or ensuring they have food packages. Helena has devoted much of her personal time to supporting both families and also the school staffing team to ensure that they are all in the best possible position to provide the children of Town Field Primary with what they need. As schools have returned she has adapted access and routines to make sure that staff and pupils are safe. The provision has been a real team effort for school driven strongly by Mrs Honeybone's determined attitude to give children in Doncaster the best possible start in life.”
Pauline Denton
"She voluntarily runs/organises Monday Smile A While social group in Thorne. A much needed group for people who would otherwise be alone. During the lockdown she continued the group activities, delivering craft making, quizzes, afternoon teas. She even held a 90th birthday surprise party. Pauline herself has physical disabilities that make her work even more remarkable! She took a lot of persuading to allow me to nominate her but she richly deserves the recognition!"
Amanda Longstaff
“Amanda registered in May 2004 and lives in Woodlands. Amanda has a heart of gold with a bubbly and fun personality and has helped many childminders, both established and new, in the local area. Amanda is a very active member of the childminding community and is held in high regard by childminders in the area.
Amanda is always eager to attend information sharing sessions provided by Early Years and asks for clarification to ensure she keeps up to date with information relating to childminding and the childcare sector. Amanda is very quick to take in and understand new legislation relating to the childcare sector and once she fully understands it she is very supportive of others who may struggle.
Amanda is a great ambassador for childminding as she is professional, eager to learn, caring and supportive of others whilst asking for no praise for what she does, she just does it because she wants to help.”