Date issued: 3 June 2024
Throughout this year Colchester City Council will be sharing Your Stories from staff, volunteers, councillors and residents, all who make huge and often unseen contributions to Colchester, to mark its golden 50-year anniversary.
From the Seventies right through to the present day, these incredible people have been helping to shape Colchester and support the people that live here – and they’ve got some brilliant stories to share.
To celebrate Volunteer Week (1-7 June 2024) here are three stories from volunteers who give up their precious free time to help care for Colchester’s award-winning parks and litter pick in our communities to keep them clean and tidy.
Meet Graham Womack. His story talks about being a Volunteer Ranger at High Woods Country Park for the last 24 years. He talks about his desire to do something to give back to the community, whilst working outside to learning new skills and making new friends. Read Graham’s story here.
Elizabeth Appleby has been picking up litter in her community for over 10 years. She is now the Litter Warrior Co-ordinator for Layer de la Haye and part of a growing team of over 600 Litter Warriors in Colchester. She talks about being the organiser of 25 volunteers who all live in the village of Layer. She coordinates group litter picks but also ensures every road in Layer is regularly covered by a Warrior to keep it clean and tidy. Read Elizabeth’s story here.
Meet Paul Horwood who has been Committee Treasurer for Colchester Countryside Volunteer Rangers since 2011. He shares his story of being made redundant and searching for a volunteer role to occupy his time and wanting to meet new people. Alongside his essential financial role, he also talks about the enjoyment he gets from helping to make bird boxes and the joy of recruiting new volunteers to the team. Read Paul’s story here.
Cllr David King, Leader of Colchester City Council, said: “The Council can do nothing without its incredible workforce, and those who voluntarily help others. It is thanks to the skill and dedication of hundreds of staff and volunteers that the Council continues to deliver much needed services for our residents.
“Over the last few years, volunteers, and the work that they do has become even more important to making sure our parks and green spaces are kept at the award-winning standard that everyone is used to. This would not be possible without them – and I want to say a huge thank you. To each and every person that gives up their time to make sure that the spaces we all enjoy, and love are looked after so very well.”
If you are interested in joining Graham and Paul and become a volunteer at High Woods Country Park, you can find more information here: www.highwoodsvolunteers.org.uk
If you would like to find out more about becoming a Litter Warrior volunteer, visit www.colchester.gov.uk/litter-warriors/
The Council will continue to mark this half century by celebrating and sharing ‘Your Stories’ from staff, volunteers and residents – all who make a huge and often unseen contributions to Colchester. These stories will be celebrating the hard work of employees, volunteers and residents – all who have a passion for our great city in the past, now and in the future. If you would like to get involved, get in touch by emailing communications@colchester.gov.uk.
Throughout this year Colchester City Council will be sharing Your Stories from staff, volunteers, councillors and residents, all who make huge and often unseen contributions to Colchester, to mark its golden 50-year anniversary.
From the Seventies right through to the present day, these incredible people have been helping to shape Colchester and support the people that live here – and they’ve got some brilliant stories to share.
To celebrate Volunteer Week (1-7 June 2024) here are three stories from volunteers who give up their precious free time to help care for Colchester’s award-winning parks and litter pick in our communities to keep them clean and tidy.
Meet Graham Womack. His story talks about being a Volunteer Ranger at High Woods Country Park for the last 24 years. He talks about his desire to do something to give back to the community, whilst working outside to learning new skills and making new friends. Read Graham’s story here.
Elizabeth Appleby has been picking up litter in her community for over 10 years. She is now the Litter Warrior Co-ordinator for Layer de la Haye and part of a growing team of over 600 Litter Warriors in Colchester. She talks about being the organiser of 25 volunteers who all live in the village of Layer. She coordinates group litter picks but also ensures every road in Layer is regularly covered by a Warrior to keep it clean and tidy. Read Elizabeth’s story here.
Meet Paul Horwood who has been Committee Treasurer for Colchester Countryside Volunteer Rangers since 2011. He shares his story of being made redundant and searching for a volunteer role to occupy his time and wanting to meet new people. Alongside his essential financial role, he also talks about the enjoyment he gets from helping to make bird boxes and the joy of recruiting new volunteers to the team. Read Paul’s story here.
Cllr David King, Leader of Colchester City Council, said: “The Council can do nothing without its incredible workforce, and those who voluntarily help others. It is thanks to the skill and dedication of hundreds of staff and volunteers that the Council continues to deliver much needed services for our residents.
“Over the last few years, volunteers, and the work that they do has become even more important to making sure our parks and green spaces are kept at the award-winning standard that everyone is used to. This would not be possible without them – and I want to say a huge thank you. To each and every person that gives up their time to make sure that the spaces we all enjoy, and love are looked after so very well.”
If you are interested in joining Graham and Paul and become a volunteer at High Woods Country Park, you can find more information here: www.highwoodsvolunteers.org.uk
If you would like to find out more about becoming a Litter Warrior volunteer, visit www.colchester.gov.uk/litter-warriors/
The Council will continue to mark this half century by celebrating and sharing ‘Your Stories’ from staff, volunteers and residents – all who make a huge and often unseen contributions to Colchester. These stories will be celebrating the hard work of employees, volunteers and residents – all who have a passion for our great city in the past, now and in the future. If you would like to get involved, get in touch by emailing communications@colchester.gov.uk.
Page last reviewed: 3 June 2024