‘Vernon’s Volunteers’ thanked for community project
support
(Date of Issue: Thursday, 16 June 2011)
The 200 volunteers and local firms who took part in a major
volunteering project in Carlisle fronted by BBC Radio 1 DJ Vernon
Kay, will be thanked for their help. As a mark of recognition
plaques will be installed at all the project sites.
‘Vernon’s Volunteers’, were involved in schemes organised as
part of the build-up to the spectacular BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend,
held in Carlisle this May. A partnership of Carlisle City Council,
BBC Radio 1, Carlisle Youth Zone and Carlisle Tourism Partnership,
offered the chance to help out at one of seven community based
projects on Saturday, 7 May. They were designed to leave a positive
city-wide legacy of Radio 1’s Big Weekend and included:
- Warwick Bridge Community Centre: tidying up and painting the
community centre and renovating the outdoor radio controlled car
track. The volunteers also created a community garden;
- Longtown Community Centre: painting and decorating the
community centre and creating a peace garden for the local
community;
- Melting Pot youth project: the team helped redecorate the music
venue which was damaged by fire in 2010;
- Botcherby Healthy Living Initiative: this project supported the
local community by tidying up a local park, as well as painting and
decorating a youth club storage area for bikes;
- Carlisle Youth Zone: volunteers decorated an area of the brand
new building and created a mural celebrating the visit of BBC Radio
1 to Carlisle;
- Rickerby Park: the City Council’s Green Spaces team worked
alongside the volunteers to install a new disabled ramp; and
- Eden Valley Children’s Hospice: a tidy up and general
refurbishment of the grounds.
With two hundred people taking part, it will be the biggest and
most ambitious social action campaign around BBC Radio 1's Big
Weekend to date.
BBC Radio 1’s Vernon Kay said:
“It was a great pleasure to be part of the legacy of Radio 1's
Big Weekend in Carlisle and to motivate the team of volunteers that
gave up their time to make a difference in their community. They've
kick started some excellent projects in and around Cumbria. It just
shows you what a bit of team spirit and a bit of effort from a
group of individuals can make. I hope that these projects continue
to grow and I look forward to seeing them develop in the
future.”
Carlisle City Council and partners are aiming to build on the
success of the ‘Vernon’s Volunteers’ project.
Cllr Mike Mitchelson, Leader of Carlisle City Council, said:
“The volunteering projects were a brilliant opportunity for
local residents to get involved in projects that make a real
difference to the local environment and local communities. They
were a resounding success and have helped kick start some exciting
new community projects.
“We’re already seeing the legacy from BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend
developing and the majority of ‘Vernon’s volunteers’ have shown a
willingness to take part in future schemes. We want to keep the
momentum going and will be providing new opportunities to keep
them, and others, involved in shaping schemes that will provide
lasting benefits to our local communities.”
Mark Richardson was one of the 200 Vernon Volunteers, he
said:
"It was great to me one of Vernon's volunteers. Helping out and
doing something with a massive group of different people shows that
the community spirit is alive in Carlisle. And from that I'm
involved in volunteering at the Youth Zone which is a lot of
fun."
Lorraine Bearchell-Healy, Carlisle Youth Zone said:
“Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the local
community, being involved in the Vernon’s volunteer project proved
that people of all ages really want to be part of the community and
that real change can come from getting involved. At Carlisle Youth
Zone, we very much value the work our volunteers do and we could
not provide the range of activities we do without them.”
The schemes were supported by Arco, Cumbria Coaches, Jewsons,
Johnstones Paint, Travis & Perkins, Tesco’s and The Range.
