Norwich Christian Tim wins police award

JennyLindTeamCF
Norwich Christian Tim Stapleford was honoured at Norfolk Constabulary's  annual awards for his work in the local community.


Tim's commitment to the outreach work in the Jenny Lind Park - close by to Holy Trinity Church where he is a member - was acknowledged at the ceremony where he was presented with the Community Citizen of the Year award.
 
The Norfolk Safer Community Awards (NOSCAs) ceremony held in Norwich on October 23rd. The awards, now in their seventh year, combine internal recognition within the police force with appreciation of local people for their contributions to their communities.

Tim organises weekly football sessions, with the support of Holy Trinity Church, the police and Norwich City Council at the Jenny Lind Park in Norwich. Players and officials from the church's football club and the Norfolk Christian Football League lead the sessions for local eight to 25 year-olds. The project has been a resounding success, with positive relationships forged between the young people and the organisations involved, and a proven reduction in anti-social behaviour.

Tim StaplefordCFTim is part of a dedicated team who are committed to social outreach in the area. Although delighted to receive the award, he is unwilling to accept the glory for his achievements alone. He said, "One of our local PCSOs, who used to help run a youth club at the Vauxhall Centre, nominated me - completely unbeknown to me. The recognition from the police is very much a shared award by all those on a team that now numbers over 20. Everyone on the team helps to make Jenny Lind Park a safe place for recreation; not just for the local young people but also for the elderly and other people of all ages across the area who clearly now feel more comfortable moving through the park, using the hard court facilities for ball sports or walking their dogs through the park after dark."

The taking out of a tenancy agreement on the old post office opposite the park, in the last month, is the next exciting stage in a local church supported vision to make Jenny Lind Park an even more precious resource for the whole community - occupying roughly in a square half mile around the site of the old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, just to the south of the city's inner ring road.

Norfolk's chief constable Simon Bailey, who hosted the awards event, said: "The event highlights examples of dedication and praise for our officers, staff and community partners for their efforts. It must be remembered that while our employees are expected to make this important work a priority, local members of the community give their time voluntarily to help keep Norfolk a wonderful and safe place to live, work, visit and invest in."
 


Pictured top: Regular senior members of the Jenny Lind Park Team for Tuesday Evenings
Mike Bach, Sam Lewis, Steve Cook, Tim Stapleford, John Woods, Tom Woods, Celia Crook, David Lawson, Helen Lawson and Andy Bunter.

Below; Tim Stapleford with his award