Hastings and Rother Senlac Rotarians Young Covid Heroes are bright lights in dark times

The quest to find The Rotary Club of Senlac’s Young Covid Hero is over; the nominations have all been considered, the winners announced and the awards presented.

The award was open to all young carers under 18 in the Hastings and Rother districts who had done that much more during the Covid pandemic for their families and neighbours. The award arose when Senlac Rotarian, Eddie McCall, realised that all the clapping for front line workers was for adults not youngsters. Eddie knew there were many young people out there who devoted time to their families but were not being recognised for what they do and he wanted to change that. The club agreed and the award went ahead. So who were the winners? Senlac Rotary Press Officer, Colin Goldsack, explains,” We intended to make one or two awards to those we thought would stand out from the others but as the nominations came in and we read the emotional and tear jerking reasons for the nominations we realised it would be difficult to select one or two winners. Everyone deserved to be a winner and that was our final decision.”

The presentations were made last week under social distancing rules either at The Pelham, a community hub in Sidley Bexhill, or at their homes. The presentation pack contained a certificate of the Award, letters of congratulations from the President of Senlac Rotary and from Jeremy Heynes, managing director of Barracloughs the Opticians one of the sponsors of the award, a letter to the young carer’s headteacher and a voucher for an on-line confidence building course donated by Ad Astra Coaching and Mentoring Training worth £99. Each carer also received an envelope containing a cash award. Other sponsors include Fitzgraham, Solicitors, individual members of Senlac Rotary Club and the club itself. The organisers of the award are very grateful to them all for the support they gave and for helping bring such big smiles to the young carers’ faces.

Eddie McCall said, “Having met all of the Senlac Covid Heroes and listened to their stories I am so moved and thankful for the quiet way that they support their families. The Rotary Club motto is 'Service above Self' and I can think of no better way to describe the work that these young people do in our community.”

All of the nominations may be read on the Club’s website www.senlacrotary.org where you will also find out more about Rotary.

Louise, mother of Terri-lou said: "I was shocked and amazed at how you wonderful people got the young covid carers together. It was a wonderful and exciting experience ……. as these wonderful young carers go that extra mile without any fuss. My daughter Terri-lou thought that this experience was a really creative and fun way to get the carers (and other potential carers) to realise what a great job they have done over the past few months. We thank you to the bottom of our hearts. "

Claire, mother of Bailey said: "Can I just say a huge thank you to you, Eddie and to all involved with the Young Covid Heroes Award. From start to finish you have been amazing and yesterday’s presentation was lovely, it had such a personal feeling to it. Myself and Bailey’s Nan and Grandad were quite emotional and extremely proud hearing the lovely things everyone had to say about Bailey and we were staggered with the awards and the award amount Bailey was presented with. I can’t thank you enough.

"You all have gone above and beyond for the Young Covid Heroes, who go above and beyond every day, and I can’t thank you enough."

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