Cumbria Life – Lifetime Achievement Award 2014 Winner
Pauline Charnley has lived on the Four Groves housing estate in Barrow in Furness since 1978. Determined to improve the lives of residents, she set out to address the estate’s problems of crime, disorder, drugs and unemployment, becoming unpaid manager of the Four Groves Tenants Residents Association in 2000 and, with funding secured from several sources, established the Four Groves Community Centre in premises of a former mini-mart. Pauline undertook numerous courses to equip her to run the Centre, and gathered a small dedicated team around her to deliver a variety of initiatives: cookery courses, school uniform swap shop, and a community shop. Additionally, a communal allotment has been established and its produce sold in the community shop.
In 2002, she was one of 4 people who were awarded the Ross McWhirter Award, for “good citizenship”. Her nomination came from the Police, who say the work on the estate is having a positive influence on other neighbourhoods in Barrow and in 2006, The Four Groves Community Association was awarded The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for outstanding voluntary work in the community, which she collected from Buckingham Palace. The Certificate states:-
The “Four Groves Community Association makes the area a safer place to live, increasing community spirit, improving the environment and improving health” – an inspirational award.
Now Pauline is personally honoured with the our Lifetime Achievement award.