State of the District Debate 2009 and Citizenship Awards

The debate was followed by the Citizenship Awards which aim to highlight and celebrate the exceptional contribution to life in the District made by countless residents, young and old.

This year the awards were presented in seven categories, to recognise further the contribution made to the community by local businesses.

The categories were:

• Young Person of the Year - for anyone up to the age of 25 who has positively contributed to their community.
• Volunteer of the Year - for anyone who volunteers their time for other people, causes or organisations in any way, shape or form
• Community Initiative of the Year - for groups of people who have come together to solve a problem or respond to an opportunity which has benefited their community
• Entrepreneur of the Year - for individuals who have, through their business endeavours, made a significant contribution to the local economy
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year - for anyone up to the age of 25 who, through their business endeavours, made a significant contribution to the local economy
• Best Marketing Concept of the Year - for any businesses whose innovative website, marketing campaign, event or other promotional tool raises the profile of both that business, and the District as a place to live, work or visit.  
• Creative Industries Award of the Year - for any business that operates within the 'creative' sector that can demonstrate success through growth, innovation, best practice, national/global fame or other achievement

The 2009 Citizenship Award winners who were present on the evening with the Chairman, Councillor Helen Grant.

The award for Young Person of the Year went to James Yeadon, a young man who contributes enormously to the musical life of Richmondshire. He is a highly talented all-round musician who is involved with a number of local bands and the music department at Wensleydale School.  He actively encourages children to make music by singing or by playing an instrument; he is an inspiration to young musicians. James also arranged a massed bands concert to raise funds for his participation in his school’s trip to the Amala orphanage in India. The concert was a huge success. All this he does in addition to his school work, which he does not neglect.

The Volunteer of the Year category was won by Mr Alan Simpson, who has given 40 years of crime-fighting service to the community having worked as a Special Constable based at Richmond. Despite a day job as a farm worker – after previously running a farm of his own, Mr Simpson has performed duties at night every weekend in Richmond assisting local police officers with their public order duties and has assisted at local events including Richmond Meet and organises and supports the annual Churches Together parade in Richmond.  His contribution can be best described as selfless. In addition Mr Simpson is actively involved with the recruitment and training of new Special Constables.

The Community Initiative of the Year award went Scorton Community Tea Room which began in summer 2007 and operates from the ante room of the village hall.  The tea room has become a focal point for all especially the older generation and is a wonderful asset to Scorton. People feel so comfortable that they will come alone, safe in the knowledge that there will be someone there that they know. The ladies who run the Tea Room are always very welcoming and are supportive of local groups. There are many users of the Tea Room such as cyclists, patients from the care home and St. John of God and many from outside the village also.

The award for Entrepreneur of the Year went to Mandy Reed of the family-owned business, The Swaledale Cheese Company which began in 2005 has overcome adversity in recent years to become a thriving business which this year celebrated its first export order. The business has created employment opportunities for local people and additional creamery staff have had to be recruited to help boost production. The company has won a host of awards, including three of the top gold ratings at the 2008 Great Taste Awards, gold at the Nantwich International Cheese Show, and two bronze medals at the World Cheese Awards. Europe also awarded Swaledale cheese protected origin status, which means it cannot be imitated and cannot be made outside Swaledale.

The Young Entrepreneur of the Year award went Felicity Hopkins of The Dusty Spring Cleaning Company. Felicity Hopkins, 21, set up The Dusty Spring Cleaning Company, which she launched with her mum Kay after the globel recession impacted on her hopes to pursue a career in television.  Undaunted she launched a new business in the Yorkshire Dales. Felicity has been able to use all the skills she learnt on a media course at Darlington College to design promotional and marketing material for the high quality cleaning business. The Dusty Spring Cleaning Company has already built up a network of private clients, along with holiday and residential lets, cleaning for builders, and pre and post party clean-ups.

The Best Marketing Concept of the Year category was won by thecitysecret who in September 2008 ran a recruitment advertising campaign in London and via a website. The purpose of the campaign was to attract potential candidates and to let them know that it was possible to continue a career in IT and banking, but out of the City. The marketing campaign included posters in the Tube (targeted around the Kings Cross area), leafleting in key financial areas, and adverts in London press. thecitysecret also ran a free prize draw to encourage potential future job applicants to register their contact details in exchange for them being entered in a free prize draw. In July 2009 the couple who won enjoyed dinner bed & breakfast at the Kings Head Hotel in Richmond, courtesy of thecitysecret.

The Creative Industries Award of the Year was particulary difficult to judge.  Their were two nominations which were equally worthy contenders and therefore this year there were two winners. 

The first joint award went to North Country Theatre which specialises in taking professional theatre out into the country, touring to village halls, small theatres, arts centres, churches, auction marts, castles, railway waiting rooms, hotels, gardens, almost anywhere in fact. North Country Theatre was set up in 1996 by Nobby Dimon and has staged productions to a consistently high standard for over 10 years. One of the Theatre’s first productions, "The 39 Steps" by John Buchan created in Richmond by Nobby Dimon and Simon Corble in 1996, was adapted by Patrick Barlow for the West End, where it won the 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. The production is now touring the world, and this year the Broadway production in New York won two pestigious Tony awards.

The second award went to The Georgian Theatre Royal Richmond which been built up over the last six years since re-opening in 2003. The theatre has seen a period of tremendous expansion in the number of shows and quality of shows offered in the year-round programme. Staffing has increased – there is now a paid supervisor in each area of the theatre’s work – and income generated for the town of Richmond and the local area is significant. A flourishing youth theatre (the waiting list has over 100 children!) ensures that young people are active both in the studio and on stage, and attendance at a wide range of theatre events and workshops is encouraged with the support of the theatre’s Education Officer and youth theatre tutors. Theatre users and audiences comprise local people and visitors from afar – ensuring that Richmond’s theatre serves both its local community and its tourists.