Councillor Nominated for Community Champion Award

7 February 2012

Councillor Evelyn Westwood from South Lakeland District Council has been shortlisted for the national Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) Awards under the category for Community Champion of the Year.  She is the only councillor throughout the whole of Cumbria to be nominated for this prestigious award. 

Cllr Westwood has been ward member for Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale since May 2011 and has worked with the local community by empowering local people to make things happen. Community action is a priority and she has successfully generated action and results through leading by example.

By planting spring bulbs in Main Street, she has encouraged residents and businesses to sponsor planters and care for the flowers and joining the Keep Britain Tidy, “Love where you live” campaign has resulted in less litter and dog fouling. An abandoned shop, which had become a local eyesore, has been smartened up after a prolonged campaign and the local market has been developed with new stalls and associated literary coffee mornings.  Teaming up with a local transport alliance resulted in a new transport information hub at Sedbergh’s Community Office and with funding from the Local Area Partnership (LAP).  A new transport guide for the area promoting local bus and community car services is being produced.

The green space in the centre of town has been saved and improved by local school children and by working with local schools she has helped to clean up the town.  A greater understanding of the political system amongst the young and how to use it for positive change has seen Cllr Westwood working with local secondary schoolchildren as part of their Citizenship Scheme.  A visit to an SLDC Cabinet session has been organised where they will meet key councillors and officers and take part in a question and answer session.  This initiative will now become an annual event on the school calendar. 

Councillor Westwood, ward member for Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale, said: “This is an amazing ward - there is such enthusiasm for doing things at a local level."

Leader of the Council, Brendan Jameson, said: “Cllr Westwood’s commitment to building community spirit and making a difference is obvious to see through the work she has done along side the local community.  Her understanding of localism as a bottom up process has delivered some important improvements for the area. By acting as one of the community’s key points of contact, Cllr Westwood has skilfully motivated people, maintained momentum and removed barriers to getting things done.  I am delighted she has been nominated for this award and believe the local community she has worked closely with will be behind her all the way.”

The LGiU and CCLA Achievement Awards received over 250 entries and was the strongest field of candidates to date. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 27 February at Westminster City Council with Eric Pickles.