Suffolk ACRE

Probert Community Initative Awards

These awards show what Suffolk ACRE is really about volunteers busy in their communities around the county and doing wonderful work that is so varied that it makes judging difficult!

The Probert Community Initiative Awards were first launched by Suffolk ACRE in 1999 in order to recognise the dedication, drive, enthusiasm and achievements of both individuals and organisations in Suffolk.

2009

As part of our Annual General Meeting each year, we hold a competition to recognise the extra contribution a group or individual from the communities in Suffolk provides. Each year we ask you to put your thinking caps on and nominate those individuals or groups within your community who really make a difference.
As it has become increasingly difficult to decide between the outstanding achievements of a group and those of individuals, both the CAMPBELL and PROBERT AWARDS will be running this year. Named in honour of our last chairman, Ian Campbell, the Campbell Cup will be presented to the most outstanding individual and the Probert Award, named in honour of Lt. Colonel Probert, will be presented to the most outstanding community group. The Probert Cup consists of a series of Vs, which stand for Village Ventures, marking the origins of this award in recognising excellent community activities.
Below are the winners from 2008 and the reasons that they won. Pictures show both groups receiving their trophies at the Annual General Meeting.


Click here to download our Nomination Form

2008

Campbell Cup and Probert Award

Named in honour of our previous Chairman, Ian Campbell, the Campbell Cup is presented to the most outstanding individual and the Probert Award, named in honour of Lt. Colonel Probert, is presented to the most outstanding community group. The Probert Cup consists of a series of Vs, which stand for Village Ventures, marking the origins of this award in recognising excellent community activities.

Tony has served his community for over 50 years. In 1951 he opened the village shop and Post Office and has been the postmaster ever since. He has been a trustee of the Village Hall and has been on the Parish Council for 40 years, fighting for what was right for the community. In whatever he does, he offers the community of Westhall an exceptional service, including being the local point of contact for village information. Invaluable if the village gets cut off by flooding.

Over the years, Tony has been a kindly uncle figure to many of the village children. Seeing them do their first ‘work’ experience in his shop. To smaller children, he is like a ‘Grandad’ to them by handing out fruit and chocolate at the Village Party.

As well as supporting the community in so many public ways, Tony has also been doing many good deeds and private acts of kindness, which are not generally known. The main point that has come out of this application is that the whole village would like to pay tribute to the life-time’s work of someone who is a back bone of the community.

Winner of Campbell Cup 2008
Tony Whatling of Westhall

PROBERT AWARD WINNER
Out & About – Are we nearly there yet? Project

A research project was set up by Out & About to run a project looking at the experience young disabled teenagers have in the different sectors within Suffolk. Workshops were organised from which 6 people were picked. They then went into the community and visited a total of 19 youth projects and clubs. With a further 8 being contacted by phone. A glossy report was then produced and presented by the young people to commissioner, providers and funders at Endeavour House.

Whilst participating in this research, the young people learnt a number of new skills, gained information on what there is to offer as well as increasing their confidence and self esteem.

For the providers of the youth clubs, who have now accessed the findings, have greater awareness of the needs and aspirations of young, disabled people and responses have been hugely positive and encouraging.

Following the research, the young people have drawn up a number of recommendations which Out & About are currently researching funding for.

Winner of Probert Cup 2008
Out & About - 'Are we nearly there yet?'

2007 Probert Awards

Every community has a least one individual or organisation that works tirelessly for the benefit of others.

The awards venue & date has yet to be announced but when it has we will publish it here.

Please complete Part A of this nomination form if you wish to nominate a Group and/or Part B for an Individual.

The above file can be read using Adobe Acrobat. A free copy is available from the Adobe web site. 

Group - Probert Trophey for Outstanding Community achivement carried out by groups.  

Individual - Campbell Cup for Outstanding community achivement across a breath of activites.

2006 Probert Awards

Complete surprise was the emotion that gripped Ethel Fordham of Fornham St Martin when she was announced as the winner of the coveted Probert Award for community service at Suffolk ACRE's AGM.

The award was made as a tribute to the amazing contribution Ethel has made to her village over the past 59 years.

Her contribution started back in the 1950s when she became secretary of both the Village Hall Committee and the Playing Field Committee, staying on as secretary when the two jobs merged. She has been President and Secretary of the Fornham St Martin WI, scored for the cricket team before making the teas, provided teas for the bowling club, run regular Friday night whist drives for the past 50 years, and been involved with the Mothers and Toddlers group. Along the way Ethel raised four children and with her late husband Geoffrey who is greatly missed.

Tying for second place in the Probert Awards was the Children of Brookwood project from Brookwood Estate in Ipswich, and Orwell Panthers Athletics Club for youngsters with learning difficulties and disabilities.

In third place came Simon Cottrell who has made an enormous contribution to village life at Parham