A 16-YEAR-OLD student who gave unwavering support to her family during the lockdowns is one of three people to have received an award from Dursley Town Council.

Charlotte Tuckwell, Sarah Lancaster and the GL11 Community Hub have been announced as the recipients of this year’s Leslie D Gale award.

The award was instituted in 1994, as a tribute to the late Mr Gale, who was the last Chairman of Dursley Parish Council and the first Mayor of Dursley. The award not only recognises longevity of service to the community but also impact.

All the recipients received nominations from the community.

Charlotte Tuckwell, 16, was nominated for the award by her mum Susan, for her outstanding support.

Charlotte’s parents are both key workers and so during the lockdowns, she helped take care of her two brothers, including working on their home schooling with them. She even helped one of her brothers get a much sought after Blue Peter badge.

Susan said she really doesn’t know what her family or friends would have done without Charlotte this past year.

“She has really gone above and beyond what a 16-year-old would be expected to do,” she said.

Sarah Lancaster was recognised with an award for her services to Dursley by coordinating the Sew for Keyworkers Glos and the community mask trees in Cam, Dursley and the local area.

The Sew for Keyworkers Glos and Community Mask group have created in the region of 15,000 handmade items and raised over £8,000 for local charities.

GL11 Community Hub in Cam received its award in recognition of its service to Dursley during the pandemic.

This has included at the beginning of the first lockdown setting up telephone hub which took over 3000 telephone calls in the first month, and organising more than 300 street volunteers to visit every house in Cam and Dursley.

Throughout the pandemic GL11 have continued to provide practical help – shopping and prescription collection for anyone shielding or isolating, providing information on benefits, financial advice and employment support. The team have also provided tablets to those unable to contact families during lockdown, and emotional support and a listening ear to those who have experienced loneliness and isolation. Further more they have managed an emergency foodbank and are currently managing the Vale Hospital vaccination site.