REPRESENTATIVES from Fairfield Village Community Association (FVCA) attended a prestigious ceremony in London after winning a Neighbourhood Watch award.
The scheme took the Community Health and Wellbeing title at the 2023 Neighbourhood Watch Network National Volunteer Recognition Awards.
This category celebrates Neighbourhood Watch groups and coordinators who have gone the extra mile to look out for the needs of their neighbours and neighbourhood.
The scheme fought off hundreds of nominations to get shortlisted and was then judged to be the best by a panel.
Alan and Sarah Gormley headed to The Wellcome Collection in the capital last Wednesday and received the award on behalf of the community from John Haywood-Cripps, CEO Neighbourhood Watch, and Ian Bretman, chair of Neighbourhood Watch Network.
FVCA spokesperson Conrad Palmer said: “Winning this award is absolutely wonderful and is down to the hard work and dedication of our amazing volunteers and the strong partnership with other community stakeholders including Bromsgrove Police.”
Through organising activities, Fairfield Village Community Association strives to improve community cohesion, build local pride and to enhance the mental, social and physical well-being of all in the Fairfield Parish ward (Fairfield, Wildmoor and Stoneybridge).
Among the events the FVCA holds are Foodie Fairfield, the monthly market in the Village Hall to support local food producers; Bromsgrove Arts, the home of Fairfield Flicks and Fairfield Music with film screenings and live entertainment, plus other activities.
When it was announced the FVCA had won the award, the organisation received praise from West Mercia Police for its hard work and dedication.
Insp Richard Field, from Redditch and Bromsgrove Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT), said: “The FVCA should be very proud of this award and very much deserved. Well done.”
Chief Constable Pippa Mills added: “This is brilliant recognition for the FVCA who do so much to bring people together. Thank you for being such a huge enabler for Bromsgrove Police to provide information and assurance about what West Mercia is doing with partners to address community concerns.”
