Earlier this year, I launched the COVID Community Champion Awards to recognise the efforts of local constituents who went above and beyond to help others during the pandemic.

Nominated by members of the public, Dr Katrina Young, Phil Priestley and Katja Gauci and Stephanie Prior have been selected as the overall winners.

Dr Young has been at the forefront of St Mary’s Surgery response to the Covid pandemic, managing with the delivery of the vaccination rollout across Ely and ensuring that housebound patients across the area received their vaccines.

Phil Priestley repaired and redistributed over 2000 laptops, spending many hours of his time delivering them to disadvantaged children who would not have had access to technology to help them with their studies and to keep connected with their friends and family.

And Katja Gauci and Stephanie Prior of Willingham, created and managed the Willingham Love Hub, organising and managing a team of volunteers to support vulnerable residents throughout the village with a wide range of needs including collecting prescriptions, shopping, food bank, IT for children.

The response to the COVID Community Champion Awards has been fantastic, and I would like to congratulate and thank Katrina, Phil, Katja and Stephanie for their amazing efforts.

Whilst all the nominations were deserving, the work that these individuals did to ensure everyone in the local area is vaccinated as well as keeping connected with friends, family, neighbours and school really stood out.

Thank you to the individuals that nominated these volunteers, as well as all of those that contributed to the Awards.