South Pennines Park awards celebrate those looking after nature and each other
Viva helped South Pennines Park to launch and host its inaugural awards, with the aim of celebrating the work that individuals and organisations were doing to look after nature and each other.
Accessible Calderdale and Visits Unlimited were crowned winners of the Special Recognition Award at the first-ever South Pennines Park awards, attended by more than 100 people at the historic Piece Hall in Halifax.
The judges said Accessible Calderdale and Visits Unlimited are passionate about creating a more welcoming and inclusive society.
They work tirelessly to improve access and break down barriers for disabled people in the region; through their training offer, their access audits, and their partnership work with stakeholders across Calderdale.
They are led by people with lived experience of disability, many of whom are volunteers who give their time to help make the countryside a more accessible place.
Their staff team and volunteers work hard to raise awareness of the barriers disabled people face, and are always willing to share their own experiences to help build understanding.
Their love for what they do, and their energy and passion for creating change is infectious – these are the reasons they were chosen to receive the Special Recognition award from the Judges.
Fellow nominees shed a tear as the representatives collected their award, and explained how much it meant for the group.
Lorraine Bailey, Project Coordinator, said:
“We are thrilled. It was really emotional!
“Disabled people often get overlooked and this says to them ‘you matter’. It feels like all of our work has been worth it – beyond the impact it has achieved – by receiving this Special Recognition Award.
“We’ve been going five years and never had an award or nomination. We represent so many people – disabled people, volunteers. This is for all for them.”
Other winners at the inaugural South Pennines Park Awards event included:
- Stubbylee Community Greenhouses – Community Champion
- Huddersfield Literature festival – Creative Champion
- Blackdog Outdoors – Wellbeing Champion
- Sand In Your Eye – Sustainable Business Champion
- Muhammad Abdulrashid – Young Nature Champion
- Calderdale Countryside Volunteers – Nature Recovery Champion
- Climate Challenge College – Green Legacy Champion
Accessible Calderdale and Visits Unlimited received a bespoke glass sculpture of the endangered twite bird – the logo for the South Pennines Park – in recognition of their achievement
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