Celebrating everyone from grandparents and neighbours to community champions and teachers, the awards’ aim is to mark some of the wonderful day-to-day activities and achievements of Islanders who help make Jersey such a special place to live.
And in order to keep the community at the heart of the awards, Islanders will be asked to nominate potential winners and be involved in the voting and judging, via the newspaper and online.
9. Grandparent of the Year
The award:
A SPECIAL award to give grandchildren a chance to say thank you for all of the love, help and support they receive from their grandparent or grandparents.
The eventual winner(s) could go beyond what is expected of a grandparent, stepping in to help with a family crisis, or simply being there at times of need.
With busy lives, many parents of young children often turn to their parents for help and guidance and grandparents, who should be enjoying retirement, are often happy to do their bit.
The sponsor: The Channel Islands Co-operative Society
WITH over 1,000 employees and 115,000 customers across the Channel Islands, the Co-op has an unrivalled reach in terms of regular interaction with the community.
And, being a co-operative society means from the very bottom of the company to the very top, it is all about working together and improving both the business and the community in which it operates.
Chief Executive Colin Macleod said: ‘I am very proud of our role in the community and while there area bigger employers, I do not think there is anyone with the same community connection as ours.
‘Our prime purpose is to make a difference to the community that we serve.
‘We do that in countless ways – through dividend, supporting good causes, investing with local growers and the actions of our colleagues, who continually astonish me with how far they go out of their way to live up to our brand with what they do in the community.’
WHY THESE AWARDS?
‘I guess the awards personify our DNA.
‘There are that many great things that happen in our community that we don’t get to hear about.
‘It was something that met so closely with our DNA that it was difficult for us to do anything other than support it.’
WHY THIS CATEGORY?
‘We’ve got loads of grandparents in our organisation and we are able to offer them opportunities to continue their careers beyond retirement.
‘We know how much they are depended upon by their extended families.
‘It’s a product of the modern world where grandparents don’t get the chance to enjoy their retirement as much as they used to – we don’t celebrate the role that grandparents play as they pull us together.
‘We therefore leapt at the chance of taking this category as it’s one that doesn’t get the press it deserves.’
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE WINNER?
‘I think life can be hard on children these days, extra schooling, exams etc.
‘Therefore, I’d like to see a grandparent bring a bit of fun to their role – creating time for laughter and for the building of memories in children.
‘Clearly I guess dedication is a must in this category, but I like the sense of fun and mischief to come out in a winner.
‘But I’m expecting a lot of incredibly strong entries and an impossible task!’
- Ambassador of the Year
- Volunteer/Fundraiser of the Year
- Grandparent(s) of the Year
- Community Champion(s) of the Year
- Environmentalist(s) of the Year
- Jersey Angel of the Year
- Teacher of the Year
- Unsung Sporting Hero of the Year
- Customer Service Employee of the Year
- Young Star of the Year
- Neighbour of the Year
- Inspirational Leader of the Year[/breakout]
We are searching for the Islanders who make our community so special.
There are many things which contribute to make Jersey such a wonderful place to call home, from the fabulous beaches and cliff-path walks to our safe and healthy environment. They all play their part.
But above all, it is the amazing people in our community who are responsible for making this small rock, measuring just nine miles by five, stand out as such a wonderful place to live.
And that is why, as the JEP celebrates its 125th anniversary, we feel it is time to honour Islanders who make a difference, many of whom devote hours every day to make this a better place.
Often the achievements of these community heroes go unrecognised, their efforts beneath the radar of most.
Being part of that community means that the Jersey Evening Post and, more importantly, its readers, are best placed to find and honour these selfless Islanders.
It is our readers who will nominate worthy individuals and it is our readers who will be the judging panel, making the Pride of Jersey Awards unlike any others.
From grandparents and neighbours to community champions and teachers, we want to celebrate all aspects of life in the Island.
Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be featuring each of our 12 categories in detail, speaking to 12 local businesses who have teamed up with us to become our awards’ partners and, most importantly, explaining how people can start voting.
These awards will become an annual celebration of those who bind our community together and we are extremely proud to be in a position, after tewelve-and-a-half decades of serving this Island, to be launching the Pride of Jersey Awards.
