Sefton's Strong community ties shine through at the Citizens 4 Good Awards in Southport

17 individuals and 2 groups from across Sefton were celebrated for the difference they make in the community at Sefton 4 Good’s latest Citizens 4 Good awards. Taking place at Southport Town Hall, this is the third Citizens 4 Good event of the year and was attended by the Mayor of Sefton, the nominees, their guest and their nominators.

“This has been one of our biggest events to date. Altogether we had over 50 people attend and we have had our highest number of nominations.”

Said Catrin Hughes, event organiser and Volunteer Development Officer for Volunteer Centre Sefton. “Our latest event has shone a light on the strong community ties of Sefton. Our 17 nominees hailed from across the borough including #Southport, #Crosby, #Formby and #Maghull.”

This year's recipients include Southport Journalist Steven Ashcroft, founder of #Ainsdale In Bloom Brenda Porter and Frank Meadows who runs Crosby Stuart Junior Football Club. We also celebrated some of Sefton's best young people, including two mini Crosby Wombles: sisters Amelia (9) and Isabella (5) Finnegan. 5-year-old Bella Mckeever, who resides on Hart Street, and after July's tragedy in Southport, helped to look after the floral tributes left by those wishing to show their respect. Bella also created, with the help of her mum, beautiful Southport bracelets and helped raise money for the North West Air Ambulance service.

Citizens 4 Good was developed by Sefton CVS and the Mayor of Sefton's office to help celebrate the vibrant community spirit that makes Sefton a great place to live.

Here is the full list of Citizens 4 Good recipients from this event:

Roy Smith, 58th Holy Family Sea Scout Group leader - Roy Smith has been a dedicated scout leader for over 40 years. He has transformed one of Marine Lake's islands into a 'pirate island' for young Sea Scouts to explore As well as captaining a dragon boat team that went on to win national awards, and several of the children he trained later represented Great Britain in the sport.

Elaine Price, Crossens Community Centre - Elaine is the heart and soul of the Crossens Community Association since its founding in 1999. She remains the driving force behind its success, dedicating herself to opening and closing the community centre around the clock to ensure it runs smoothly.

Daniel Shields - From walking dogs to painting fences, Daniel is always the first to offer help, often before anyone even has the chance to ask. His kindness extends well beyond our neighbourhood as he supports various charities, from collecting items for baby banks to volunteering for local initiatives.

Frank Meadows, Crosby Stuart JFC –Frank was nominated for this Award due to his incredible dedication to running Crosby Stuart JFC, a youth football club that he manages entirely on a voluntary basis.

Jean Gamble, Maghull Homewatch – Jean is a caring and considerate neighbour who regularly brings people together. In the summer months, Jean hosts garden gatherings, providing an opportunity for neighbours to socialise and build stronger bonds.

Diane Ball, Maghull Baptist Church and MadUkes - For many years, Diane has run the Toddler Group at Maghull Baptist Church, creating a nurturing environment where children and mothers blossom as well as. leading the MadUkes (Maghull and District Ukeleles).

Brenda Porter, Ainsdale in Bloom – Brenda founded The Ainsdale Village Bloomers Team and has spent the past 14 years dedicated to creating stunning floral displays throughout the village. Under Brenda’s leadership, Ainsdale-in-Bloom has been a three-time winner of Gold Standard awards in the 'In Bloom' competition, earning titles such as Best Village and Best Town (North West), and even competing in the UK Britain In Bloom 2014.

Alex Doyle, Green Cat Driving School - Alex is committed to environmental sustainability and inspires students to adopt the same values. He supports a diverse range of learners, including those with complex needs recognising the importance of mental well-being in driving.

Alison Hollinrake, Read Easy- Alison was nominated for her exceptional dedication as a volunteer reading coach with Read Easy. Over the past 18 months, Alison has tirelessly supported her reader, meeting twice a week despite both of them working full-time. Her commitment has gone far beyond what is expected of a volunteer, making a profound impact on her reader’s life.

Amelia and Isabella Finnegan, Crosby Wombles - Since the Crosby Wombles group began two years ago, these two sisters, age 9 and 5, have been their chief Mini-Wombles, setting a wonderful example for all younger members with their enthusiasm, kindness, and commitment to caring for the environment.

Kindhearts Café - Based in St Faith's Church Hall in #Waterloo, the fully volunteer-run Kindhearts Community Café is a welcoming hub that opens every Thursday, serving a hearty hot meal, tea, coffee, soup, and delicious homemade cakes. This small café has a big heart, offering accessible and affordable meals to all members of the community.

Wendy Bently – Wendy helps everyone around her, collecting donations for a variety of causes including for Ukraine and The Mission to Seafarers and regularly takes items to local charities like Carla Lane and Freshfields Animal Rescue. She also collects clothes, bikes, and soft toys to send to Uganda.

Lesley Paterson, SWACA - A founder of Sefton Women's and Children's Aid, also known as SWACA Lesley has been a leading light for women, mothers and children in our borough.  She is a true hero who has worked tirelessly to support women and children, survivors of domestic violence and has built a charity from the ground up.

Lynn Rigby - Lynn is deeply involved in her community, contributing her time and energy to initiatives such as "Melling in Bloom," where she helps maintain the beauty of the village by tending to the flowers. She has also served as a barrister and dedicates her time to supporting her local Youth Club.

Steve Ashcroft, Southport News – Steve established Southport News as a Facebook group, and it's quickly grown to over 20,000 members. He manages and administers the group entirely on his own and does not make a profit out of it, providing a vital news source for Southport.

Spectrum Alliance Movement - Two years ago, Linton Jonad, along with Marshall Brook and Deborah Ann Clark, founded the Spectrum Alliance Movement (SAM) to befriend autistic individuals in Sefton and organise social events.

Bella Mckeever –Five-year-old Bella’s life was touched by the tragic event that took place in Southport in July. While tending to the flowers, Bella, who uses a wheelchair and has mobility issues, began making bracelets with her mum. She handed out over 100 and raised £140 for the North West Air Ambulance service.

Formby Luncheon Club - The Luncheon Club provides home-cooked food (two courses and tea/coffee) three days a week for residents in Formby and surrounding areas. Not only does the club provide a nutritious lunch, they also provide a lifeline to isolated older people in the community. Their team of volunteers freshly prepare the food, pick up less mobile people so they can attend clean away and provide friendship to those who come along.

We would also like to thank Southport BID for their kind donation of £500 sponsoring this awards. We have more sponsorship packages available for Citizens 4 Good 2025. 

For more information about Citizen 4 Good contactSefton4Good@seftoncvs.org.uk.