North West Netball's Volunteer Celebration

Leonie Purvis Bronze
As the communications officer of Lancashire county committee Leonie has been at the forefront of driving all communication needs during the lockdown. Leonie runs all the social media pages. Throughout lockdown the committee ran numerous competitions which were advertised through social media channels, the posters and posts created are all down to Leonie and the outstanding engagement across the county is thanks to her. Leonie volunteers across both the county committee and the Lancashire Academy group, and she was integral in ensuring potential academy players received trials information. Leonie supported our committee and county in ensuring we celebrated the good times throughout COVID when times were hard. Leonie volunteered endless hours celebrating Lancashire, and I would like to celebrate her

Chloe Collier Bronze
Chloe has been relentless through the pandemic. From securing spaces to train, to posting on social media (she’s the South Ribble NC socials queen) to organising groups into COVID bubbles to get us back on the court safely and not forgetting our lockdown quizzes! Without her and her passion to keep us going throughout I’m sure we wouldn’t have returned as strong as we did. Both our ladies and our junior sections benefited from Chloe's drive and commitment immensely. We are a community club who live and breath grassroots and passion and Chloe has an abundance of both.

Leanne Leigh Silver
Leanne works hard every day for South Ribble, the club she founded some years ago. During lockdown she worked tirelessly arranging zoom calls to posting postcards through everyone’s letterboxes, letting them know the club were thinking of them. She arranged family quizzes, and fun tasks to get everyone involved so the girls had something to concentrate on. When training restarted Leanne arranged a new outdoor venue so the girls could keep up their fitness; at all times their health and well-being was at the forefront of her mind. Having returned to the court Leanne could be at 4-5 games on a Sunday coaching the girls. Leanne goes over and beyond for this club and gives every child or adult her time and attention, even if this means sacrificing her time at home with her own family. The club has grown considerably yet Leanne remains positive at all times. The ethos of the club is fun, passion, courage and she embodies them all.

Gill Walker Silver
Gill quite simply has been a lock down legend keeping Blackpool NC going and being super active. Not many clubs could manage to grow during lock down but thanks to this amazing individual the club have actually grown in numbers. On a personal note she has been such a influence and super supportive for me to complete my level one. As someone who is dyslexic, I normally shy away from such challenges, but with her faith and support I smashed it. From my daughter’s point of view, she manged to be the reason she smiled during the hard times of the lock down. As a keyworker kid, and also losing two close family members she had a lot going on, but every time Gill came on screen she beamed. Thanks Gill for everything

Anne Wignall Gold
As the chair of Lancs county committee Anne has been integral to the county during lockdown and has ensured everyone has remained motivated, checking in regularly via our WhatsApp group and providing invaluable support. Anne has always been a champion for England Netball instigating various membership campaigns across the county as an incentive for Lancashire players to become members or renew their membership in support of England Netballs rise again campaign. Whilst committing endless hours to the county committee Anne also runs her local club West Pennine, supporting players via Zoom sessions. And if that wasn't enough Anne is also on the committee for the Blackburn league who thanks to Anne have recently converted to a member league, resulting in hundreds of additional memberships for England Netball. Due to the quick turnaround of leagues restarting and wanting to ensure the compliance of membership Anne has spent hours on ENgage, helping players find membership numbers, purchase memberships and link to their league. Anne volunteers her time to all of the above, without expectation of recognition or thanks, but for the love of the game. However, this award goes some way in recognising and acknowledging all the amazing work she has championed, ensuring people across the county enjoy and have access to netball whilst also supporting England Netball.

Barbara Glover Bronze
Barbara has single handedly overseen the return to netball for all clubs in the Lancaster Netball League. She has watched ENcovid safety briefings and liaised with Lancashire Netball to ensure that the only affiliated league in the north of Lancashire has been able to return to action. Barbara ensured all club Covid officers were fulfilling their responsibilities, worked closely with the venue and sourced additional cleaning products. She is the fixture secretary, the cancellation secretary and pumps the match balls! After a lifetime dedication to netball, Barbara thoroughly deserved this recognition of her commitment to ensuring our area has opportunities to play the sport we love.

Zoe Makin Bronze
Zoe has handled everything COVID related for Lancashire County academy and clubs. Without her support, guidance and being a fantastic sounding board, the county programme along with the county clubs would have been lost in the maze of COVID regulations. I don’t think the above quite adequately sums up the ins and outs of the things Zoe has done for the county, but the fact I can’t name everything she has done shows Zoe’s skill in sorting something before it becomes an issue!
Wyre Coaches Gold

This nomination is for the whole coaching team at Wyre NC who during the last 16 months have delivered over 300 virtual netball sessions. The fabulous coaches are Abby Chamberlain, Tara Fisher, Michelle Harrison, Ash Jenkinson, Vikki Mayers, Ellie Pearson, Emily Wolstenholme, Tony Simmons, Mike Smith, Jen Mould and Lexie Simmons.

The team used their innovation skills to become one of the first clubs in the country to deliver online sessions and their portfolio of activities ran throughout all three lockdowns with over 500 unique participants. These included ……are you ready……
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Lockdown Live Wyre Club -1 hour weekly Zoom training sessions for 11 age groups on Wednesdays and Saturdays (average attendance 200 per week) 'Tough Tara Tuesdays' a 45 minute strength and conditioning session every Tuesday evening for members and their families 1 hour weekly strength and conditioning session with gym partners Fortitude Fitness every Friday evening throughout all three lockdowns 'Motivational Monday' - positive advice on how to keep motivated in lockdown with home activities, recipes, arts and craft challenges. Weekly Shooter Sunday Challenges with prize giveaways 'Wall Work Wednesday' a home based programme for 20 minutes to keep members working on their ball skills 4 x 6 week virtual performance programmes with Fortitude Fitness working on plymetrics, agility, speed and strength engaging 100 members 'Sport psychology and performance' sessions for U13,U14,U15 and U16  

'Staying focused in lockdown sessions for U13,U14,U15,U16 Online CPD Junior coaching programmes with Active Lancashire for our Junior coach volunteer workforce to keep them engaged in CPD 20 guest master class virtual coaching sessions with Beth Cobden, Laura Malcolm, Eleanor Cardwell, Yaz Parsons and Nat Panagarry Family Challenges including a scavenger hunt with a Domino’s pizza night in for the winning team 'Erin's Kitchen' virtual cookery classes 'Bring a parent' to virtual netball session and ‘Bring a sibling' to virtual netball session Mum and daughters challenge 2020 and ‘Grab a Dad' challenge 2020 'The BIG Family Challenge' Prize giveaway including tickets to Alton Towers for a 5 week family challenge aimed at getting families active 'Trainer of the Week' Prize giveaway including a Fit Bit watch, new netballs, England Netball Merchandise A Queens Project (as part of International Women's Day) involving 3 different virtual activities; Volleyball Spike, Clubbercise and an Under Armour athlete S & C session. And a Beach presentation night for all 11 age groups including social distanced dominoes, awards and rounders. ​

The coaches worked tirelessly to deliver all the above voluntarily whilst in lockdown, juggling their own family commitments, working from home and living through the pandemic's challenges. The coaches also worked together to restart with the COVID challenges three times, spending hundreds of hours completing endless additional administration duties liaising with players, parents, venues, leagues and England Netball. A truly fantastic achievement! ​