Windsor Residents Association named Team of the Year

The Sawyers Close Residents Association (SCRA) was named as Team of the Year at the Windsor & Maidenhead Voluntary Action Volunteer Awards, sponsored by Radian. The SCRA beat stiff competition to take home the award at the picturesque Dorney Lake at Eton College, which will play host to the 2012 Olympic rowing events.

Throughout the year, the SCRA has implemented a number of additional projects to enrich the lives of all residents of Sawyers Close in Windsor. They have organised activities for all ages; including bingo for elder residents to reduce social isolation and a kids club to provide positive activities for the younger residents. The SCRA organises an annual Fun Day and holds numerous fundraisers to finance free trips away for the residents, such as visits to the seaside, Oxfordshire Wildlife Park or Monkey World.

Most impressively, the SCRA has cemented itself as an integral part of the community to such an extent that residents will approach the SCRA in the first instance, if they have any issues or concerns about the estate. Residents are consulted by the SCRA and have formed a wish list of adaptations once they have the funds. High on that list is a communal vegetable garden and a drying area at the foot of each block.

Shabana Farooq, Community Development Officer at Radian, said: “The team are very deserving of the Team of the Year Award as all the members have worked extremely hard over the past 11 years; they are always thinking of others on the estate. Winning this award has shown what residents can do for other residents when they are determined and work as a team.” 

Radian resident, Carol McCall is a founding member and chair of SCRA, the vice chair of Radian’s Thames Area panel, is a member of the Radian Residents Council and sits on numerous boards within Radian.  A finalist in this year’s national Tenant of the Year awards, Carol was also the runner-up for the Community Safety Award announced on the night. 

Carol said: "It was great for the SCRA to win. I would like to thank Shabana Farooq for nominating the team. We couldn’t have done it without her help; it’s taken a long time but it was well worth the wait! It will lift the morale on the estate and I would like to thank everyone on the estate for their support. I'm looking forward for bigger things to come.”

Carol has been championing the reduction of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in communities like Sawyers Close, where she has been credited for helping to cut ASB by up to 70%. Together with Ms Farooq, she organised a successful event called Community Spirit Day to raise awareness of ASB and the effects it has on people.

As a Community Crime Fighter, Carol has forged many contacts with the police and is now helping to head up a new Street Angel scheme in Windsor, where volunteers from the community offer assistance to people who become vulnerable in any way while enjoying an evening out.

The Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Councillor Asghar Majeed, is an ardent supporter of Carol’s work and attends many of the events and activities she organises for the community. Currently Carol and SCRA are raising money for next year’s Jubilee Street Party, through raffles, a sponsored walk and applying for any funding that can help them reach their target for next year.

Cllr Phill Bicknell, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety, said: "I wish to congratulate the winners. Time and time again we read about so much negative behaviour so it was particularly pleasing to hear of all the positive work carried out by our residents to improve everyone's quality of life and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour."

Radian resident, Carol McCall, and Radian’s Community Development Officer, Shabana Farooq, celebrate the Sawyers Close Resident Association winning the Team of the Year at the Windsor & Maidenhead Voluntary Action Volunteer Awards.