Kind and caring Sarah scoops council’s Good Neighbour Award
A MIDDLESBROUGH woman who has given her time to helping Ukrainian refugees has been named as one of the town’s first “Good Neighbours”.
Middlesbrough Council launched the Middlesbrough Good Neighbour Award to recognise those people who make a huge contribution to the lives of many people in Middlesbrough, often without even thinking about the positive impact it has.
One of the first winners is Sarah Golding, 47, from Marton. Sarah became involved with supporting the charity Sunflower Sisters – a women-only group providing a safe space and support for Ukrainian women, having initially spoken to a Ukrainian woman through their shared love of pottery.
She said: “My hobby is pottery and I was chatting with a lady in Ukraine who is a potter and was asking for clay to distract herself and it strkes you that it could be you or anybody.”
She was nominated for a Good Neighbour Award by staff from Middlesbrough Council’s Stronger
Communities team. Her nomination form stated: “At the start of the war, many people in England were very concerned about the people of Ukraine and wanted to help. Sarah has personally completed countless visa applications as a member of Sunflower Sisters because she have found them a safe place to stay.”
On the back of her award success, Sarah said: “It’s just lovely because a lot of the work I do is in the background or through social media so it’s nice for people to saythank you.”
Cllr Tony Grainge, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Community Safety, said: “For somebody to spot that need in the town and think about others, putting their energy and efforts into helping others is incredible and really noble. It’s great work.”
For more information on Sunflower Sisters visit www.sunflowersisters. co.uk.
And for further information on the awards, visit www.middlesbrough.gov. uk/good-neighbour-awards