Third Successful No Barriers Awards
The third annual Wyre Forest 'No Barriers' awards ceremony was
held in Stourport on Severn on Friday 22nd October. The
event celebrated the significant contribution made by individuals,
businesses and organisations to improving access, service or
employment possibilities for people with disabilities.
The awards were set up in memory of long-standing District and
County Councillor Mike Oborski, who sadly passed away in 2007.
Mike initiated the project based on a similar scheme in
Poland.
Representatives from a number of community organisations were on
the panel that considered the nominations which were submitted from
residents and businesses across the district.
The No Barriers Mike Oborski Awards 2010 went to Natalie Guest
who volunteers for the Tulip Tree Centre, Gemma Towe of Stourport
Riding Centre, Sharon Whitehouse and Nicky Collett who volunteered
at the centre for Stourminster School, Terry Vaughan of the Friends
of Bewdley Museum, Maureen Hobbs of Stourport Library, The Wyre
Forest Glades Cafe, Beryl Bedford of Disability Action Wyre
Forest, Pizza Hut Kidderminster and the Granary Hotel in Shenstone
for it's Market Garden Project.
The evening featured a welcome by Ray Brookes of The Community
Housing Group who hosted the event, an introduction by Councillor
Howard Martin and a personal perspective from Councillor Fran
Oborski.
Councillor Oborski said "I am absolutely delighted that the Mike
Oborski No Barriers Awards this year have taken a huge step towards
delivering what Mike originally envisaged.
The scheme was never intended to be an award for clubs and
organisations set up specifically for those with disabilities.
Mike's vision, taken from the original scheme in Gdynia, Poland,
was an award for those mainstream businesses, pubs, shops, cafes
etc who, while providing a service to the general public, go the
extra mile to ensure easy access to their facilities and a warm
welcome to those with disabilities".
The guest speaker was Pervez Hussain who not only trains people
in leadership and management but is also the only blind DJ in the
UK and DJs and trains purely from memory. The awards were presented
by Councillor Gordon Yarranton, Chairman of Wyre Forest District
Council with Lucy Bennett, the Council's Equality and Diversity
Officer.
Picture shows: Stephanie Dipaola, Natalie Guest, Gemma Prescot,
Jenny Chambers, Craig Darby, Cllr Gordon Yarranton, Richard
Fletcher, Catherine Greenhall, Beryl Bedford, Terry Vaughan, Sharon
Whitehouse, Nicky Collet.
Date of issue - 26th October 2010