Yesterday, Wednesday 22 March, Matt Vickers MP welcomed two local Community Champions to Parliament, where they enjoyed a tour and attended a drinks reception in No.10 with the PM.
Matt nominated Deborah Gale and Cheryl Scollay, both from Stockton South, to attend the ‘Community Champion’ event, thanks to their outstanding efforts to support the wellness of their communities.
Deborah Gale led a campaign for new public defibrillators in Ingleby Barwick, after the use of the only community access public defibrillator (CAPD) in the area saved a life.
Along with a group of residents, Deborah continues to push for a CAPD available to all households within 500m in Ingleby Barwick. She has used her own network, resources and created a successful GoFundMe to approve new sites, secure funding and deliver the installation of the new devices.
Cheryl Scollay is the Chair of Yarm Wellness Centre, a local community wellness centre which gives charities a safe space to deliver their support.
Motivated by the isolation witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic, Cheryl has worked alongside local charities and businesses to establish the support point without the use of public funding.
Thanks to Cheryl’s dedication, now working full-time as a social-prescriber, Yarm Wellness Centre’s expansion means they can support the wellness of the community across Teesside. They host events such as breakfasts for veterans, and afternoon teas with dementia support.
Speaking after the event, Matt Vickers MP said:
“I am honoured to have welcomed Deborah and Cheryl to Westminster for the day.
“Yarm Wellness Hub is so valued in bringing the community together and supporting our veterans. The Defibs in Ingleby Barwick are already saving lives, having been dispatched 51 times. I knew they both deserved a nomination.
“The energy Cheryl and Deborah have put into their projects is truly inspiring. It is the work of them and other volunteers that is helping to change the narrative surrounding accessibility to wellness support in Stockton South.
“It is crucial that we acknowledge and celebrate those giving so much of their own time, energy and resource into making our communities safer places to live, work and thrive.
“I hope they enjoyed their time in Parliament and of course meeting Rishi, the Prime Minister. A day to remember.”
The Community Champions programme was created to celebrate community members who volunteer to promote health and wellbeing or improve conditions in their local community.
Champions are leaders who use their social networks and resources to address barriers to engagement and improve connections between services and disadvantaged communities.
If you’re interested in supporting Teesside’s Community Champions, or want to know more, please visit the Yarm Wellness Centre’s website, which includes an events timetable, and the Ingleby Barwick CAPD GoFundMe page.
