Safer Kent Awards 2012
Unsung heroes from across the county were honoured at the Safer
Kent Awards ceremony on Friday 2 March at Leeds Castle. The event
recognised outstanding community work and those who have gone the
extra mile.
The ceremony was hosted by the Chair of Kent Police Authority,
Ann Barnes, and sponsored by BT, Kier Construction, Kent Peoples
Trust and Southern Water.
Winner of Community Warden of the Year - Dawn
Riach-Brown 
Dawn is the Kent County Council Community Support
Warden for the Maidstone District who has touched so many
lives. She keeps an eye on the elderly and vulnerable and has
stopped rogue traders from doing unnecessary work and charging an
exorbitant amount of money.
During Dawn's time as the Community Warden for
Bearsted she spent three years visiting an elderly couple to keep
an eye on them and found they were being ripped off by a gardener
and window cleaner. Dawn made sure the couple received the care and
help they needed.
Dawn has also helped the elderly during bad
weather co-ordinating food and medical supplies. She even arranged
a Christmas Day dinner for those who would have been alone.
Her work with schools also needs to be
commended. Dawn secured funding for high visibility jackets for
schoolchildren and ensured that fluorescent snap bands were worn by
children walking or riding to school during the winter on country
lanes.
Community Warden of the Year runner up - Martin Sherwood
Martin is the Kent County Council Community Warden in
Harrietsham and Lenham. He is described by residents as ‘a people’s
person’ and ‘an individual who is immersed in the community.’
Martin was instrumental in setting up a
‘message in a bottle scheme.’ Homeowners can place a plastic bottle
in their fridge containing health information and emergency contact
details. In an emergency an ambulance crew would be aware of the
bottle thanks to a sticker system, saving valuable time. To
date Martin has distributed over 180 bottles helping to save
lives.
He has worked closely with the Parish Council
for approximately 18 months. He has a very caring nature and
regularly assists the Parish Councils with their events.
Martin has a visible and vital presence, from
being outside schools, talking to parents, at community functions,
or holding the hands of elderly and vulnerable residents.
He has actively promoted campaigns and police
initiatives working with other agencies and keeps himself involved
as an active participant at meetings, events and functions.
Martin is seen as a policeman, a social
worker, a teacher, a doctor, but most importantly of all, a friend
of the community. The villagers would be lost without the service
that Martin provides and are proud to say that ‘he is our Community
Warden.’
KCC Cabinet member for Customer and
Communities Mike Hill said: "We are enormously proud and grateful
to all the Community Wardens for the work they do. They provide a
valuable service to local people and their efforts should be
celebrated. Congratulations to the award winners and to all those
who work tirelessly for the benefit of the communities they
serve."
Joanna Vos – Kent Police Commendation
Joanna Vos, Community Warden for Tenterden received an award for
bravery in helping to restrain a man armed with a handgun.
Joanna was praised for her courage and professionalism in
dealing with an intoxicated man outside Tenterden pavilion on
January 31. She was one of 39 recipients to receive
awards which were presented by Chief Constable Ian Learmonth and
the High Sheriff of Kent Georgie Warner.