John White - February
Since 2008 John has been the CEO of Coventry's own international children's charity, Global Care. Working tirelessly both behind the scenes and from the front line, to ensure the charity's limited resources are used wisely in supporting the poorest and most vulnerable children from all around the world, through education, vocational training, feeding and welfare care, with results which have been transformative for thousands of needy children over the years.
John is very committed and involved with almost every aspect of Global Care's work. As well as overseeing the management of the charity at home in the UK, and the staff team, he is closely involved with the charity's international partners, spending several weeks each year travelling to often inhospitable places, building connections which allow Global Care to support children in some of the world's most fragile states - including Syria and South Sudan. In addition, John is ultimately responsible for the charity's three shops, in Coventry, Kenilworth and Bulkington, which support the broader work of Global Care, but are also committed to offering opportunities to vulnerable adults here in Coventry and the local areas.
John is highly dedicated, leads by example and is very person-centred in his approach and his dedication is so much encompassed in our Coventry’s commitment to Peace and Reconciliation. He has invested so much of his time, efforts, and resources to helping better the lives of young children in Coventry and across the word, his actions truly reflect his character, and he is a worthy recipient of this Coventry Good Citizen Award.
Pru Porretta MBE - March
For the past 40 years, Pru has embodied the heart and soul of Coventry’s modern-day Lady Godiva, working tirelessly within the community to celebrate diversity, and devoting her time and energy to helping and raising money for charitable causes within Coventry. As founder and CEO of the Godiva Trust, Pru is devoted to helping all generations of women, men and children from Coventry’s diverse cultures better relate and reinterpret our heritage celebrations with a unique identity that reinforces the City’s international role as a Centre for Peace & Reconciliation. She always seeks opportunities to enact positive social development through artistic and cultural means.
In addition to her role in the Trust and Godiva Sisters founder, Pru is a knowledgeable Heart of England tourist guide and offers her support and commitment to tourism in Coventry by providing educational workshops, storytelling of the heritage of Godiva and is involved in multicultural events, women’s events and Peace and Reconciliation Programmes throughout the City. Even through the Covid-19 pandemic Pru never stopped her inventiveness and resourcefulness, she made educational films such as ‘Covid through the eyes of a child' to better educate communities during a dark time. In addition, she also organised a rose bed planting ceremony in the Peace Garden at Memorial Park as a touching and lasting tribute to our city’s victims of COVID-19, it is now a place loved ones can visit to pay their respects.
Pru actively promotes the City of Coventry and has built bridges with communities locally, nationally, and internationally. She is a true pioneer of Peace & Reconciliation and through her work, she has made Coventry a better place. Her actions truly reflect her character, and she is a worthy recipient of this Coventry Good Citizen Award.
Sybil Hanson - June
For over 50 years Sybil has made a significant contribution to education in Coventry. Having begun her teaching career in 1961, she came to the City in 1972 where she spent 25 years at Blue Coat CE School, initially as Head of Mathematics before being appointed Deputy Head in 1977.
Since her retirement in 1997, Sybil has continued to make a significant contribution to education in the City, including, but not limited, to her appointment on the Board of Directors for the Inspire Education Trust. A Multi-Academy Trust covering local primary schools within Coventry, it aims to ensure each child receives a first-class education, in order to identify their capabilities and talents so that they can strive for excellence and succeed in the next stages of education and the world of work.
Sybil was also a well-respected member of the Diocesan Board of Education, having only recently stepped down as its Vice Chair. She represented the DBE as a co-opted member on Coventry City Council’s Education & Children’s Services Scrutiny Board 2 for over 15 years, to which she has contributed fully, including being on several task and finish groups, most recently on Partnership Working in Children’s Services and another on Autism, which have identified recommendations to improve the lives of children and their families in the city. Additionally, she continues to chair The Coventry Schools Forum which she has done for many years.
In 2020, Sybil turned 80 and she continues to be a significant contributor to the education debate in Coventry. She has given a huge amount of her time, experience and knowledge over the years and her contribution is highly valued by the many organisations with which she works, including the City Council. Her actions truly reflect her character, and she is a worthy recipient of this Coventry Good Citizen Award.
Ilyas Deen - September
Mr Deen cares passionately about his local community and helping the people who live there. He has always shown the highest levels of commitment and dedication to the residents of Foleshill and the wider city of Coventry through his charitable acts and community activism.
Mr Deen works tirelessly to help develop, enhance and improve his local community. He often seeks to ensure that any problems in the area are raised; anything from road repairs and fly tipping to crime and anti-social behaviour, and faulty street lighting and abandoned vehicles. He does this not for selfish reasons, but to ensure these problems are addressed for the good of the wider community and to help protect the safety of residents.
Mr Deen displays care and compassion for those in need and always does what he can to make sure they get the help they need when they most need it. Through his work in the community and his wider relationships with faith groups in the area, he is often approached by people who are struggling for one reason or another and who are unsure where to turn for help. Mr Deen is always happy to talk with them, listen to their concerns and point them in the direction of help.
Through his community activism, Mr Deen has shown incredible commitment to the residents of Foleshill and the wider City of Coventry by investing his time and considerable efforts to help others in his area and improve his local community. His actions over many years reflect his altruistic character, therefore a worthy recipient of the Good Citizen Award.”
Rene Whitlock - October
Rene has been Chairperson of Coventry Spires U3A for the last 9 years. U3A stands for University of the Third Age and the organisation’s aim is to encourage older, retired people with spare time to share knowledge, skills and experience with each other. There is a wide scope of groups including walking, bridge, gardening, geography and more, several of the groups are run by Rene.
Rene works tirelessly in her role, and even organises day trips and holidays for the group members. Rene has invested so much time and effort to engage with older people and make them feel part of a caring, supportive community, her commitment is unwavering and what she does is extremely valued by so many people.
Members feel very looked after by Rene and it is clear she goes beyond the call of duty in her role. She is tremendously selfless, always putting the members first and ensuring they are having a good experience in whatever activity they are taking part in. Her attitude is always very positive, cheerful and caring, which creates a very welcoming atmosphere for members. She has been referred to as a breath of fresh air who lifts spirits. This dedication and person-centred approach has been vital throughout recent difficult times resulting from the pandemic.
Rene does not expect thanks, but the members of Coventry Spires U3A are incredibly grateful for what she does and the kind and thoughtful way she conducts her work. Therefore, we are delighted to be able to acknowledge her efforts and feel she is certainly worthy of receiving a Good Citizen Award.
Pass the Smile for Ben - December
Pass the Smile for Ben is a Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) fund set up in memory of Ben Crowther to raise awareness and funds for research into rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer that Ben suffered from.
The team behind Pass the Smile for Ben are Ben Crowther’s family: Mum Sarah, Dad Scott and brothers Harry and James. There are assisted by an amazing team of volunteers who fundraise for Pass the Smile throughout the year.
Since their work began, the Pass the Smile team has raised well over £120,000 for research into rhabdomyosarcoma. The team has organised some amazing events for Pass the Smile including painting the town gold in 2019, 2020 and 2021 for the 'Go Gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness month' in September. Ben's mum, Sarah Crowther is involved in Go Gold international and raises money and awareness of childhood cancer each September by mobilising the community, especially in Earlsdon and Whoberley, where Ben was well known and much loved. The size of the community effort has grown year on year and 2021’s ‘Bennis the Menace’ theme was an amazing community celebration.
Ben’s dad, Scott Crowther, has also set up a Christmas tree collection to raise money for Pass the Smile and Myton Hospices equally. This initiative has been running for 3 years and raised £38,000 for rhabdomyosarcoma research in 2021 alone.
Pass the Smile for Ben has brought both the communities of Earlsdon and Whoberley together. Each year, their fundraising and awareness efforts get bigger and bigger. The community mobilisation is part of the reason why the Pass the Smile for Ben team has been so successful and fundraising for childhood cancer awareness month is now a much-anticipated event in the communities’ calendars.