Ribbleton resident Carol Mason is such a charitable and compassionate neighbour that staff at local housing association Eaves Brook, have nominated her for The Winning Women Awards, which have been created to recognise unsung heroines in the North West.
Carol has been short listed for the final of the Awards, now in their tenth year, to be held in Manchester on 20th May. Granada TV presenter and reporter So Rahman will host the event while award winning TV broadcaster and author, John Suchet has postponed another commitment to present the awards.
Over the last 18 months Carol has given up her time to work voluntarily alongside Eaves Brook, to tackle the high levels of crime and antisocial behaviour present within her Ribbleton Community.
Against all the odds, the work carried out by Carol and Eaves Brook has reduced levels of crime and antisocial behaviour there to nil, and Eaves Brook are so impressed by Carol’s efforts that she has now been employed by the housing association as a Scheme Manager.
Carol found that one of the hardest tasks initially, in turning the neighbourhood around, was encouraging other members of the community to help her. Undeterred however, she approached Eaves Brook to help in recruiting some core members and made a role for herself as Chair of Eaves Brook Task Group, a residents’ association, in May 2004.
It is the extent to which Carol has got involved in turning around the whole community that has seen her nominated for the Awards.
She has worked whole-heartedly, putting in long hours with young members of the community, has organised and self-funded numerous activities and weekends for the whole community and with the help of Awards for All funding, has purchased sports equipment and organised football coaching for the youth.
In her new role as Eaves Brook Scheme Manager, Carol still manages to continue with her good work and works over and above her contracted hours on a voluntary basis. She is well respected and liked by all the residents, young and old, and it is for the relationships she’s built and her achievements within the community that Eaves Brook would like to see her awarded.
Suzanne Allen, Neighbourhood Regeneration Officer for Eaves Brook and who is responsible for Carol’s nomination says:
“The dedication and commitment, which Carol has shown to her community has changed the lives of the members who live there for the better, which in turn has turned the local environment into a cleaner and better place to live.”
She adds:
“Carol is ‘one in a million’ and I’m sure that members of the community would all agree.”
The Winning Women Awards will be held at The Midland Hotel in Manchester on Friday 20th May at 12.30pm.