Leader Community Heroes 2021: Meet our Unsung Heroes

Connah's Quay councillor, Bernie Attridge, set up the‘Deeside Crisis Centre’ from his home. From helping two families affected by domestic violence with food items and essential goods, to helping thousands of families all across Flintshire, he is a true local hero.

He worked day and night to ensure that volunteers were there to deliver the food and essential item parcels to families in need.

This escalated then to helping people with white goods, furniture, beds, mobile phones and much more.

He even continued to support people after being stricken with critical illness which left him hospitalised.

Nominating her father for the award, Chelsea Attridge said: "It was only when his own health declined, and he became critically poorly that he made the hardest decision to close the crisis centre.

"I truly believe that after everything my dad has done for our local community he deserves the recognition for his hard work and dedication to the people of Flintshire."

Councillor Bernie Attridge said: "I am truly shocked and humbled to receive this award of which would not have been possible without the help of so many volunteers.

"This is as well as all the generous donations from local businesses and others so we could provide care packages to some of the most vulnerable residents across Flintshire."

Highly Commended was Ann Chapman and her team at Bodlondeb, Pendine Park Care in Wrexham.

Ann was nominated by Samantha Martin-Roxburgh, for going "above and beyond" to help her terminally ill daughter.

Ann heard the story about three-year-old Nova, who is suffering from an incurable disability. Nova has deletion of Chromosome, and suffered seizures at five weeks old - almost losing her life.

It has caused other health struggles through her life with her heart and lungs, leading her to be none verbal and none mobile.

After Ann heard about Nova she has helped organise different events to raise money to buy Nova medical suits to help with her daily pain relief and help her to stand up and eventually to walk.

In total Ann and her team has raised over £1,000 which has already bought Nova her first suit and has enabled her to climb up and onto the couch which two months ago her family thought would be possible.

Ann has also baked two life-size cakes, helped organise a marathon run and contributed to the fundraising raffles the family has held. And her sister also walked the streets selling raffle tickets to help out.

She is planning to organise even more events into 2022 to help get Nova's family get to the fundraising target of £4,000.

Ann has done all of this in the space of just the last two months whilst - also managing and caring for everyone at Bodlondeb, Pendine Park Care Home.

Samantha said: "Thanks to Ann’s dedication and determination, my daughter has managed to stand and climb up onto the couch as well as providing her with daily pain relief she has never had before.

"For the start of Christmas, Ann has helped given our family one of the greatest gifts we could think of. Not only has she been a hero to many families during the pandemic she has been a hero to our family by improving the quality of our daughter's life."

Nova Martin-Roxburgh with mum Samantha Martin-Roxburgh and Ann Chapman, the manager of Pendine Park’s Bodlondeb care home.

Ann Chapman said: “The whole team deserve recognition because it was totally a team effort.

“I knew that when I told my work colleagues this heart-wrenching story of a little child in such desperate need then the team here at Bodlondeb would want to help as much as they I did.

“Raising money for little Nova has been such a lovely challenge for us to take on because she is a little sweetheart. We’re all chuffed.”

The Unsung Hero of the year Award is sponsored by Kenton Jones.

Kenton Jones designs, builds and installs exclusive handmade kitchens and stunning hardwood floors in a variety of finishes and styles.

A spokesman said: “Our growing reputation is based on supplying high quality kitchens, UK wide, over the past 44 years, lovingly handmade by our skilled craftsmen employed in our workshops at Welshpool. We design, manufacture and fit kitchens in a variety of styles and materials; luxury, classic, contemporary, traditional, to suit your taste and your budget.

“Kenton Jones, himself a local master craftsman, started the business in Welshpool over 44 years ago. We have flourished ever since, and are now established as a leading manufacturer of quality kitchens.

“Family life revolves around the kitchen, so it’s essential that it’s designed with you in mind. No-one puts more love into achieving the perfect result than Kenton Jones.

“Look upon Kenton Jones as a mark of quality, providing the highest standards of craftsmanship and service, personally supervised by our experienced management team.”