On Friday 23 October, we were delighted to welcome nominees and their guests to our annual Community Awards evening.
The event is always a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the local people, groups and organisations who go above and beyond to support our town and strengthen our community.
🏆 The deserving winners of this year’s awards were:
Young Person of the Year – Amira Beckham
Amira Beckham was named Young Person of the Year in recognition of her outstanding fundraising efforts, community spirit and dedication to supporting mental health and wellbeing.
Through a series of ambitious fundraising challenges and events, Amira has raised awareness and support for Equilore, an organisation that uses horses and nature-based activities to support mental health and wellbeing. Her determination, resilience and commitment to helping others have made a real difference to the lives of many people in the community.
Organisation/Group of the Year – OurCoop
OurCoop received the Organisation/Group of the Year award in recognition of its exceptional support for the residents and community of Chipping Norton.
Over the past year, OurCoop has provided grant funding to numerous local organisations and projects, supported charitable initiatives, community events and food donation programmes, and helped create opportunities for local groups to thrive. Their long-standing commitment to investing in the town continues to have a positive impact across the community.
The Beacham Award for Sporting Achievement – Chipping Norton Indoor Bowls Club
Chipping Norton Indoor Bowls Club received this year’s Beacham Award for Sporting Achievement following an extraordinary year of success.
Club members achieved unprecedented results at county level, winning six of the eight available county competitions and reaching the finals of several others. Alongside these remarkable achievements, the club continues to encourage participation from people of all ages, offering opportunities for both competitive and recreational bowlers while supporting local schools and community groups.
Mayor’s Civic Award – Claire Toplisek
The Mayor’s Civic Award was presented to Claire Toplisek in recognition of her outstanding service and dedication to the Chipping Norton community.
After moving to Chipping Norton, Claire established the Parkinson’s CafĂ©, creating a welcoming and supportive environment for people living with Parkinson’s and their carers. Through regular meetings, guest speakers, wellbeing activities and ongoing support networks, she has helped reduce isolation, build confidence and create lasting friendships for many local residents.
Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees, whose commitment, enthusiasm and hard work continue to strengthen our community. The Town Council would also like to thank everyone who took the time to submit nominations and help shine a light on the many people making a positive difference in Chipping Norton.
A special thank you goes to:
- Jon Room and Geoff Coleman for compering the evening
- Sean Woodcock, Graham Beacham, Steve Akers and Sandra Coleman for presenting the awards
- Joe Walker and Ethan Gascoigne from Chipping Norton School for providing pre-event music
Thank you to everyone who joined us for another memorable Community Awards evening.
