Local community celebrated at Council ceremony

(Date of issue: Thursday 11 March 2010)

A charity chief executive, a teenage volunteer, a longstanding local volunteer, a farming and rural champion and a international sportsman were recognised for their achievements tonight (Thursday 11 March), at Carlisle City Council’s Civic Awards presentation.

The awards have been the highlight of the Civic Dinner since 2002 and this year’s winners are:

Sheila Goodliffe has spent 42 years in health care management. Since 2004, she has been Chief Executive of the Eden Valley Hospice. Under her guidance, the hospice has gone from strength to strength. This organisation provides care for people with life-limiting illnesses. She has put the Hospice on a better financial footing and she has established the Eden House Children’s Hospice through the jigsaw appeal. As with any organisation, who rely on donations, funds have been tight but the hospice has introduced several new fundraising initiatives, including the popular Carlisle and Penrith midnight walks, to bring in money throughout the year. She was recognised for her unstinting work with Eden Valley Hospice.

Julianna Gallop is a young person who, as a volunteer, has supported youth workers in the city as well as getting involved in the Town Twinning Youth Exchange for the last two years. She has been a vital volunteer in teams who have prepared and staffed events such as the Skatejam, fundraising activities and graffiti art projects. She has also helped to fundraise for groups to go to Flensburg and Slupsk. This year, she is part of a group learning Polish in preparation for Carlisle to host the 2010 Exchange.

She is a campaigner for improved services for young people and as part of the ‘People Like Us Group’ has been finding out what young people would like to see provided for them in the city centre. This work has contributed to the development of the Carlisle Youth Zone. She has also been an active member of the Carlisle Joint Schools Council. This is just a fraction of what she does and, this is all in addition to studying and working part-time!

Elsie Baty is a lady who, in 2010, will have been involved with Botcherby Community Centre for 50 years. She was one of the first volunteers in the centre and, over the years, voluntarily taken on many roles. She is the present chair of the House Committee and the Luncheon Club and, has been on the Management Committee for most of the last 50 years.