Civic Awards
Newbury Town Council introduced the Newbury Town Civic Award in 1997. More recently, the Young Persons Award, the Business Civic Award and the Environmental Contribution Civic Award have run alongside the main Civic Award. The awards highlight the importance of those who make a difference in our community and are presented to those who have made an exceptional voluntary contribution to Newbury and celebrate the achievements of our local community.
The Newbury Town Civic Award
This person, or group, does not have to live within Newbury Town; however, their voluntary activities should be predominantly within Newbury Town or benefit the town.
The Newbury Town Young Persons Civic Award
This person must be age 25 or under. They don’t have to live in Newbury Town; however, their voluntary activities should be predominantly within Newbury Town or for the benefit of the town.
The Newbury Town Business Civic Award
The Town Council wants to acknowledge the contributions made by the many businesses who are giving something back to the community in Newbury. This could be through employees volunteering for local causes, through fundraising or contributions, or by partnering with local charities and organisations. The business does not have to be located within Newbury Town; however, the contribution or volunteering activities should be predominantly within the town or for the benefit of the town.
The Newbury Town Environmental Contribution Civic Award
The Town Council wants to acknowledge the contributions made by individuals and organisations whose volunteering impacts the local environment by helping to reduce CO2 emissions, or to reduce/recycle more waste, or to increase biodiversity. This could be through conservation projects, green initiatives, fundraising, or by awareness raising. The individuals or organisations do not have to be located within Newbury Town, however their contribution or volunteering activities should be predominantly within Newbury Town or for the benefit of the town.

Town Council AWARDS unsung heroes of the community
The Annual Newbury Town Civic Awards presentation took place at Newbury Town Hall on Wednesday 15th March 2023. The awards presented included the Newbury Town Civic Award, the Newbury Town Young Person’s Civic Award, the Newbury Town Business Civic Award and the Newbury Town Environmental Contribution Award. The awards recognise the town’s unsung heroes who go above and beyond to help make an exceptional contribution to the Newbury community on a voluntary basis.
The Mayor of Newbury, Cllr Gary Norman, said “We received so many fantastic nominations for this year’s awards. All nominees showed dedication and commitment to their voluntary causes, and the variety of nominations shows what a wonderful town we live in where people are willing to give their time and energy to helping the community”
Kerry Bird was named the winner of The Newbury Town Civic Award 2023. Kerry is the driving force of the Speen Community Café supporting residents from both Newbury & Speen to become more connected within their community. The café has been providing refreshments, signposting to local services, craft activities, speakers, board games, friendship and a safe place to come to get to know other local people. It is also one of a network of 'warm spaces' in Newbury. Guests can also learn new skills such as knitting, fire safety in the home, using a sewing machine and gardening. Kerry’s commitment and enthusiasm, along with a small band of helpers, keeps this valuable community resource going.
The winner of the Newbury Town Business Civic Award 2023 was Gardner Leader. Gardner Leader regularly supports the local community through financial sponsorship and practical help and they have a Charity of the Year, this year it is the Newbury Soup Kitchen. They have helped and supported the Ukrainian community - certifying documents for free for many refugees, helping them access essential things like Family Allowance on arrival. Gardner Leader also donated money towards the Christmas party for Ukrainian children at the Baptist Church Hall.
The Newbury Town Young Persons Civic Award 2023 recipient was Ashley Aspinwall, aged 18. Since becoming a young leader at Waterside Centre in April 2022, Ashley has volunteered her time on many occasions to support the activities that take place at the Centre. Ashley has helped with groups of children participating in activities within the primary school holiday programme, and worked with the centre staff to set up and deliver events and bookings, including the Community Larder, Sponsored Paddle and Community Cricket Partnership. Ashley is a friendly face to new young people joining sessions.
The winner of the Newbury Town Environmental Contribution Award 2023 was Emma Fearnley. Emma and her husband, Derek have both recently completed five years as trustees of Newbury & District Beekeepers Association. They have been vital in the association and have given up hours of their time educating the local community on the importance of beekeeping. They are also the coordinators for collecting honeybee swarms in and around Newbury and in 2022 were responsible for rehoming 40+ colonies. Their impact on the local environment is huge.
The Mayor of Newbury, Councillor Gary Norman congratulated all of the nominees for their outstanding achievements. All nominees were invited to the Town Hall for the presentation ceremony and were given a certificate of recognition for their achievements.
Newbury Town Civic Awards 2023
All Nominees & Winners
Young Persons Civic Award
Name |
Reason |
Waterside Young Leaders (Age 15-17)
|
Volunteering their time to represent Berkshire Youth and act as ambassadors of the Waterside Centre, working with young people who use their services. |
Adam O’Donnell (Age 11) ‘One to watch’ |
Various voluntary activities including the Secret Garden Project and Newbury Living Advent Calendar enabling project success. |
Ashley Aspinwall (Age 18) WINNER |
For her voluntary work as a Young Leader at The Waterside Centre, working with centre staff to set up and delivery events and bookings, including the Community Larder, Sponsored Paddle and Community Cricket Partnership. |
Business Civic Award
Name |
Reason |
Colline’s Kitchen |
Supporting the work they do with Educafe, Berkshire Youth, families with babies and the over 65s combating loneliness. |
The Ugly Duckling |
For providing SEN Friendly sessions for the community and improving the mental health of residents through their service.
|
Educafe CIC |
Bringing together diverse ethnic communities within Newbury through community cafes, conversation, education and well-being activities. |
Kellie Henderson – Artisans Handmade UK |
Providing opportunities for local businesses to sell and showcase their work. Also providing workshops teaching new arts and crafts. |
Gardner Leader WINNER |
Regularly supporting the local community through financial sponsorship and practical help. Including certifying documents for many refugees and supporting the Ukrainian Community over the past year. |
Environmental Contribution Civic Award
Name |
Reason |
Charmaine Buckley |
Making her hair salon more sustainable through the ‘Green Salon Collective’ where hair, empty products and PPE are donated and recycled for good causes. |
Paula Saunderson |
For her work campaigning and raising awareness of the impact of flooding across the Newbury area. |
Emma Fearnley WINNER |
For her and her husband, Derek’s, volunteering as trustees of the Newbury & District Beekeepers Association and educating the local community on the importance of bee keeping. |
Newbury Town Civic Award
Name |
Reason |
Cath Hamblin |
For her commitment and dedication to her charity work and support to service users of Newbury Soup Kitchen. |
Kate Greenslade |
For her commitment and dedication to her charity work and support to service users of Newbury Soup Kitchen.
|
Sandra Davis |
For her commitment and dedication to her charity work and support to service users of Newbury Soup Kitchen.
|
Karen De’Monte |
For her work in bringing people of Newbury together through the Joining Together Facebook group and ongoing support of Newbury Cancer Care. |
West Berkshire Community Hospital Volunteer Team |
Their continuous voluntary service bringing care, comfort and company to all WBCH inpatients. Services include a listening team, gardening team, group activities and young people. |
West Berkshire Group of ABC To Read Volunteers |
For their continuous voluntary service working in Newbury schools helping children who struggle to read. |
Paul Worsley |
Paul’s support to local musicians and venues, providing equipment and mixing with an aim for local music to be heard. |
Simon Ball |
Volunteering for Sue Ryder for 10 years and various fundraising activities to support the charity, even after being diagnosed with a Brain Tumour. |
Phoenix Lacrosse Club |
Excelling in providing an inclusive lacrosse training environment since being set up from scratch in March 2022. |
Helen Tuck |
For her voluntary service with Harmony Choir for many years, and the support she’s provided to local charities and organisations through singing events. |
Paul Cooke (Highly Commended) |
Running a local boxing club on a weekly basis for young boys and girls from all backgrounds, training them and guiding them to take part in boxing events across the country |
Kerry Bird (WINNER) |
Being the driving force of the Speen Community Café supporting residents from both Newbury and Speen to become more connected within their community. Including providing ’warm spaces’, a ‘hub’ for local people and signposting vulnerable people to local services. |
Civic Awards Hall of Fame
Newbury Town Business Civic Award | Newbury Town Environmental Contribution Award | ||
2023 | Gardner Leader | 2023 | Emma Fearnley |
2022 | The Globe Pub | 2022 | Tony Hammond |
2021 | Colline Watts - Colline's Kitchen | 2021 | Dr Susan Millington |
2020 | Mathew Groves - Greggs Northbrook st | 2020 | Marion Fenn |
2019 | Newbury Weekly News | ||
2018 | Wendy Berkley - Empire Cafe |
Newbury Town Civic Award | Newbury Town Young Persons Civic Award | ||
2023 | Kerry Bird | 2023 | Ashley Aspinwall |
2022 | Sukey Russell-Hayward | 2022 | Soorya Anbumurasoli |
2021 | Eve Hughes | 2021 | Ellie Chadwick |
2020 | Steve & Jan Pye | 2020 | Jacob Halling |
2019 | Terry & Maureen Dummett | 2019 | Lily-May Fisher |
2018 | Sandra Goodyear | 2018 | Ellouise Greenall |
2017 | Katy Hawthorne | 2017 | Natasha Williams |
2016 | Rosemary Lister | 2016 | Ashley Reads |
2015 | Sylvia Galbraith | 2015 | Kate Westall |
2014 | Jane Sutton | 2014 | Mathew Corbett |
2013 | Catherine Moody | 2013 | Amy Boughton |
2012 | Michael Hutchins | 2012 | Martin Fisher |
2011 | Elizabeth Leight MBS | 2011 | Bethany Coopey |
2010 | John Austin | 2010 | Keryn Osterriter |
2009 | Fiona Walker | 2009 | Rebecca Hall |
2008 | Peter Mott | ||
2007 | Les & Ann Summers | ||
2006 | Alison Clarke | ||
2005 | Nora Schneider | ||
2004 | Nick Galbraith MBE | ||
2003 | Charles Cooper | ||
2002 | loraine Fisher | ||
2001 | Jo Dawes | ||
2000 | Ken Pearson | ||
1999 | Martin Danks | ||
1998 | Geoff Smith |
Newbury Town Community Champions 2021 | |
ABC To Read | Julie Cobbett |
Mai-Britt Gram Jensen | Bev Lewis |