Volunteers honoured for community work

Betty Minto, left, and Christine Clarke, right, receive their medals from Durham County Council chair Joan Nicholson

Volunteers have been honoured for the work they do in their communities.

Betty Minto, Christine Clarke and James Holden have each been presented with a chairman's medal, which Durham County Council says is the highest honour it can award for voluntary contributions to the county.

Ms Minto and Ms Clarke have helped turn around the fortunes of Burnopfield Community Centre, while Mr Holden has transformed the flower beds at flats in Newton Hall, County Durham.

Ms Minto said she was "absolutely delighted" to be presented with her award.

James Holden received his chairman's medal for his gardening

Working together, head trustee of Burnopfield Community Centre, Betty Minto, and treasurer, Christine Clarke, have brought community services, clubs, bingo and a day care nursery to the venue.

They rallied to serve breakfasts and dinners to people affected by power cuts during the 2021 storms, and one of their recent ventures is a new community shop.

Ms Minto said: "Christine and I are cleaners, organisers, cooks. You name it, we run it all, so we are absolutely delighted to receive the chairman's medal.

"It made us look back at all the hard work we've done and it was such a proud moment.

"We've got our medals on the wall in the centre and we wear our little badge everywhere we go."

Mr Holden's planting at Bowes Court flats in Newton Hall...

...where he noticed the flower beds needed brightening up

Mr Holden noticed the flower beds at Bowes Court flats in Newton Hall, where he lives, were in need of some attention, so stepped in.

The beds are now home to a colourful array of plants and flowers.

Durham County Council chair Joan Nicholson said: "People like Betty, Christine and James make such a huge difference to their local communities.

"In Betty and Christine's case, they've built a thriving community venue and everything taking place in there is changing the lives of local people for the better.

"The flats where James lives are primarily occupied by older people, and the fruits of his hard work not only brighten up the place itself but also the lives of those who live there."