Everybody needs good neighbours like Mark
VILLAGE KARATE INSTRUCTOR IS EAST MIDLANDS AWARD WINNER
A SELFLESS volunteer who worked all hours to make sure help was at hand for people having to shield at home from coronavirus has been crowned as the Co-op’s East Midlands Neighbour of the Year.
Karate instructor Mark Barber founded the Broughton Astley Volunteer Group to help those in isolation during the pandemic.
The judges heard that Mark, 62, worked around the clock to set up the Broughton Astley Volunteer Group as the nation went into lockdown.
After setting up an office in the village hall and calling on the community to help, the group had 300 volunteers supporting vulnerable residents within weeks.
Mark then split the community work into smaller groups, from the “Nitter Natters” who chatted to isolating neighbours and collected shopping for them, to a team of gardeners and litter pickers who kept the village looking tidy.
Thanks to the efforts of Mark, the group became a registered charity in October.
Mark’s neighbour, Nicola Elson, who nominated him for the award, said: “Mark went out of his way to ensure that everyone who needed help received it.
“He’s modest enough to say that it wasn’t just down to him, but he is the one who has been there from the beginning. Even before the pandemic, Mark has always puts others before himself. He’s made a huge impact on many people in the village who have found this year extremely difficult.”
Mark said he was honoured by the award, but that his charity work had kept him going by giving him a focus during lockdown.
“It’s an honour to be crowned Coop’s best neighbour for the whole of the East Midlands when so many others across the region have been supporting their neighbours during the pandemic,” he said.
“While I’m truly grateful to Nicola for nominating me, I can’t take all the credit and what stands out to me is the amount of people who have been willing to volunteer their time.
“The Volunteer Group has kept me out of mischief during the pandemic. My karate lessons have had to stop during the lockdowns, and though I restarted them as soon as I could, this has kept me going.”
The award celebrates neighbours who look out for others, are sociable and friendly, offer practical help and are kind, caring and respectful.
Ellis German, of the Co-op, said: “We’re so proud of Mark – he’s an excellent reminder that there are those on our doorsteps who need us more than ever. All the judges agreed he was the worthy winner.”
The awards were backed by actress Catherine Tyldesley, who played Eva Price in Coronation Street.
She said: “It’s heartening to see neighbours like Mark exist and are being recognised for the great work they’re doing to create communities where everyone feels safe and part of something.”
This year’s winners are announced as new data from Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch indicates that the surge in neighbourliness seen in the spring has not been sustained, as pandemic fatigue sets in across the UK.
During the peak of the first national lockdown in April, data from Co-op showed a spike in neighbourliness, with 74 per cent of adults in the East Midlands saying they knew who among their neighbours was classed as high risk.
After seven months of pandemic restrictions, this figure has seen a dramatic fall to 26 per cent.
I can’t take all the credit - what stands out is the amount of people willing to volunteer their time
Mark Barber