AN independent Barnsley councillor has paid tribute to local residents who help put the community spirit back into his ward.

Jake Lodge, who represents Worsbrough, has submitted three nominations in this year’s Proud of Barnsley awards.

Jake, who has recently announced he will stand for re-election in May, works hard to foster community spirit as well as championing causes which improve the area for residents.

He has nominated Tracey Hamby in the Community Hero category.

“Tracey is one of the most selfless people that I have ever met, often doing lots behind the scenes to be able to support our community.

“I first met Tracey around six years ago at a drop-in at the Worsbrough Community Church to discuss their plans for a foodbank.

“Fast forward six years, Tracey is now at the heart of the community, coordinating the delivery of the Worsbrough Community Pantry, spending countless hours sorting through stocks of food, ensuring the books balance and that’s all before she opens the doors to the pantry for 50 of the 52 weeks of the year.

“More recently, Tracey has been at the forefront of the Worsbrough Uniform Bank and must hold some sort of record for the number of shirts, trousers, and jumpers that she washes, irons, and folds for children across Worsbrough.

“In addition to the above, she is also an active member of Worsbrough Ward Alliance. Tracey wouldn’t ever seek out any recognition for what she does, nor would she want it but she thoroughly deserves it.”

Coun Lodge has also nominated two groups which both contribute to the community.

“Worsbrough Coffee and Conversation started off around four years ago in the Covid Recovery, initially via AGE UK, but is now independently run by a core group of volunteers, including Nicola, Sue, Maggie, Tracey and Cath as well as many others.

“The group has given people over 50 in Worsbrough a chance to meet up, find out what’s available to them, as well as an obligatory game of bingo and a quiz hosted by our very own fountain of local and international knowledge, Sue.

“The group has about 50-plus regular attendees and on a Tuesday afternoon in Worsbrough, you need only pop your head round the door of the welfare to see a community group in action.

“It’s much more than what you’d expect, I’ve had anecdotes from those who regularly attend that it means so much to them and in one case, one attendee attended hospital after having their blood pressure taken and it saved them from a serious incident.

“The team of volunteers behind the scenes have organised seaside trips, entertaining and the annual Christmas meal at the Boatman’s Rest.”

He has also heaped praise on Worsbrough Tidy Group and nominated them in the Love Where You Live category.

“Worsbrough Tidy Group are the epitome of Love Where You Live between them the group have collected tens of thousands of bags of litter from across the community.

“Core members Kath, Esther, Frank, Phil, Gordon, Diana, Helen, Kevan

and Susan along with other regular volunteers hit the streets of Worsbrough and help us love where we live.

“You’d think that would be enough, wouldn’t you? But, no the group do individual picks outside of their regular organised picks and can be seen out in all weathers, across all terrains and at all hours.

“In addition to this, group members have also helped facilitate other things, including Worsbrough in Bloom and Worsbrough in Lights, bringing some of the best hanging basket displays and Christmas trees in the borough to Worsbrough.

“As well as this, they led the much-admired ‘Bottles for Benches’ campaign with local schools to encourage primary pupils to recycle and in return receive a bench for their school. If it wasn’t for them, I genuinely

don’t know what our streets would look like and they deserve this

recognition.”