Windsor Lions ‘Local Heroes’ : Windsor Street Angels : Windsor Horse Rangers : Windsor Baptist Church
Windsor Lions ‘Local Heroes’ campaign – the results are in!
The second year of Windsor Lions’ Club ‘Local Heroes’ campaign, devised by twelve-year-old Aiva Purchase, daughter of club member Alaster, has recently seen the results of the online voting – with a close and thrilling finish.
The campaign created an online poll via Windsor Lions social media page and asked locals to nominate and vote for their favourite local group or organisation to receive cash awards from Windsor Lions Club.
This year there were 18 nominations for the pole and voting was fast-paced and close. The poll shut in August, the votes were counted and the winners announced!
In first place – with a clear lead is Windsor Street Angels, followed by Windsor Horse Rangers and in third place Windsor Baptist Church.
The winners, Windsor Street Angels will receive a sum of £1,500 to spend as their needs dictate – likely to be spent on new kit bags for the street patrols. Their purpose is to patrol the streets of Windsor every Friday and Saturday night helping anyone who may be vulnerable or need support and help. Their 30 -40 volunteers have helped over 30,000 people since forming in 2012. This support might be to provide water, flip flops, lollipops or blankets, soup for the homeless or just a listening ear. Trained volunteers will even administer basic first aid or in more extreme circumstances call an ambulance or police. Based at Windsor Baptist Church- which remains open to 3am at weekends to offer places of safety, rest and refreshment – Street Angels are about members of the local community helping to ensure that people in the night time community have a safe and pleasant experience and those in need receive help. The charity expressed themselves ‘Eternally grateful and honoured’ to receive this top award.
In second place and receiving £1000 is Windsor Horse Rangers – as the name suggests, a Windsor based equestrian charity, led by volunteers which was set up in 1972 with the mission to give young people the hands-on skills to care for, handle, ride and connect with horses in a supportive, nurturing and fun environment. They embody a set of values that include Trustworthiness, Honesty, Respect, Hard Work and Kindness. Children – about 10% of which have autism, ADHD or anxiety – learn how to get the horses ready to ride, how to ride and muck out stables, plus every aspect of how to look after a horse. This wonderful organisation is so popular that they have a 3 year- waiting list of 720 children hoping to join. The money awarded will go towards fencing around a new hard standing so that the land can be used all year round.
The third placed organisation, winning a £500 prize is Windsor Baptist Church. They are an inclusive and creative Christian community at the heart of Windsor and strive to be an active presence in the town. The church building is a community hub, with something going on every day of the week. Their core values encompass four branches – Family, Inclusivity, Creativity and Community. Their award will be used to help to establish their new Adult Café which offers a safe and tranquil space. Church Deacon Sarah said they hoped that the Café would develop into a multi- use space where adults can come to escape the hectic world outside and make connections with others in the community.
Speaking of the event, Lion President Phillip Simpson said ‘this such a great new project which invigorates the whole town – and it is very encouraging to see its considerable growth from last year’s inaugural event. As a club Windsor Lions is happy to be able to help so many organisations and their users. What is also gratifying is that all three worthy winners have the name ‘Windsor’ in the title, which highlights the true local community focus of the event.’
