The Wrexham Recognition Awards (WRA) Competition for 2024 is now open! It’s easy to apply or nominate somebody. Just consider whether they have a talent or make a difference in people’s lives or the local community.
Contact them on Facebook or Instagram, fjonesinit on X or info@fjonesinitiative.co.uk with a name, and they’ll do the rest.
Here are some of the winners – we’ll feature the rest of them in December.
Alexandra Rippon
Despite suffering many heartbreaking events herself, losing her baby daughter Nicola and the traumatic events that followed this, followed by losing her husband David to cancer when he was just 38 years old, with her dad passing away in the same year, Alexandra Rippon has put others before herself. She is a tireless fundraiser and is famous around Wrexham for giving out presents at Christmas and Easter from her mobility scooter.
A Sponsored Head Shave
Here is Alexandra’s story: “Years went by, and I decided to do a sponsored head shave and had all my long hair shaved off for cancer research. I raised £1,700 and donated my hair to the Princess Trust to make wigs for children with cancer. I have never grown my hair back long.
“I’m known round the town for my crazy-coloured hair and music on my mobility scooter. I ride my scooter decorated up on certain occasions like Christmas, and I’m dressed up as Mother Christmas, and as soon as selection packs hit the shelves, I buy little by little, ready to hand out to all the children of our town.
“We usually have over 400 by the time Christmas is here, so I start handing them out to children and seeing them smile makes my day, as you can’t put a price on the smile of a little child. I do the same for Easter when I dress up as the Easter bunny, decorate my mobility scooter up for Easter and buy about the same, around 400 Easter eggs, to hand out to all the children.
A Cauldron of Sweets
“Halloween comes and I decorate my whole garden and have over 400 children come and see it. I made 400 sweet cones for them as well as a cauldron full of sweets for them. You just don’t know if that’s the only sweets that a child is going to get, and it makes them happy.
“I raised £138 @Yab in Eagles Meadow from my Halloween garden, and now I have started buying Easter eggs again, ready for Easter.” She also says she loves seeing happy children and has often bought food for the @wrexhamoutreach programme to help the homeless people in our town. “I just like to help those less fortunate than me,” she adds.
Well done, Alexandra. You are amazing and an inspiration to us all!
Baby Basics
Baby Basics started in 2021 to make hampers for vulnerable and low-income mothers and expectant mothers, including asylum seekers, who live locally in Wrexham and have been referred to Baby Basics by Midwives, GPs, Council staff, and Health Visitors.
Everything given out is from a donation – the team fills Moses baskets with newborn baby basics such as clothes, toiletries, nappies, and items for mum too, shampoo, lip balm, conditioner, and chocolate, all beautifully wrapped to look like a wonderful hamper. Clothes for babies aged 0-3 months and 3-6 months are in the baskets.
This excellent enterprise is entirely volunteer-run. They have had National Lottery funding this year and a couple of grants, but they run with mainly donations. Baby Basics give out roughly 8-12 hampers per month – at the start of the year, it was 4-7! They work with 30-45 people who refer on a regular basis. The hampers look incredible, leaving mums overwhelmed, blessed and special, and providing the baby with a safe place to sleep at the beginning of their life.
You can donate to this wonderful venture via Caia Park Partnership on Monday mornings, 9.30-11.30am.
Cheryl Reeves
Cheryl is the founder of Agri-cation CIC, a farm that is doing amazing things for the community in Bangor-on-Dee, Wrexham.
The farm provides nature connect programmes, working with people with additional learning needs, high school pupils and long-term unemployed people. These programmes bridge the gap and the disconnect between rural life and people not knowing where food comes from.
The programmes involve work placements, teaching about nutrition, and, importantly, building self-confidence. High school children who have been excluded from or bullied at school have one-to-one sessions, learning how to listen, how to control anxiety and how to build confidence. There are chickens, wagyu cattle and baby goats on the farm.
A young person has come to the farm through the referral system at age 14 and has since become a volunteer, going on to win student of the year at Llysfasi College.
Along with running all this, Cheryl is also a mum to four children, which is pretty inspirational! Well done, Cheryl.
Cora Bishop
Cora is an Army Cadet at Hightown Barracks. She has Down syndrome and has received a nomination for always having a massive smile on her face and the way she makes amazing friends.
Her parents told The Wrexham Recognition Awards that witnessing the transformative journey of their daughter through her participation in the Wrexham Army Cadets programme has been nothing short of remarkable. They added that the experience had enriched her life and opened doors to personal growth and empowerment. It had also brought a sense of belonging that they believe every child deserves.
Cora’s confidence and self-esteem have grown, and she has challenged herself to take on responsibilities and step outside her comfort zone. She has gained a sense of self-sufficiency that transcends her disability. This newfound independence has provided her with essential life skills that will serve her well.
Her presence has benefited the other cadets, as many would not have had the chance to interact and support someone with Down syndrome previously. Cora has found a sense of purpose and belonging as a cadet – it has empowered her to overcome challenges, build self-confidence, and embrace her unique abilities. Although she will always have challenges, her limitless potential now defines her and not her disability!
Well done, Cora and keep smiling!
Ella Muddiman
Ella is currently a Level 3 student at Coleg Cambria, and last term, she won the Bakery Student of the Year Award for her hard work and dedication to the programme.
Christmas Cakes
She has always loved baking: she has baked every day since she was 9 years old! Ella has made Christmas cakes every year, decorating them herself also and in lockdown started her own business for her family and friends called Baked Ella.
She also won a scholarship from the Worshipful Company of Bakers to attend a bakery course and now helps students at the college to learn more about baking, sharing her knowledge and skills gained from the course.
Ride London 100
We hear that “Ella is patient and caring with her students, understanding potential anxieties and concerns they may have, having had these herself in the past. She continually works to help others and develop her bakery and patisserie skills, working with staff and students at the college to support them.”
When she is not baking, Ella has trained for months to cycle the 100 miles in a day Ride London 100 event, which raises funds for Mind. Her favourite bakes are classic cakes, cookies and sourdough bread. She bakes the desserts for the Iâl Restaurant and creates sandwiches and tray bakes. Her sourdough bread is a regular at To^st Café.
The Wrexham Recognition Awards love that Ella is learning traditional skills, sharing her knowledge and supporting the community.
Mannie Thomas
Seventeen-year-old Mannie has been a Wrexham fan since 2012 and a season ticket holder in the Tech End for coming up to 9 years now.
His older brother William and his friends had the idea of creating a more vibrant atmosphere in the stadium as the fanatical fan culture increased. Mannie and William have always been passionate and fanatic about Wrexham AFC, and as the Wrexham Supporters Trust accepted their idea, William was able to get a drum and played it until 2017 when he decided Mannie should have a go
This was at the Dagenham game when Mannie was just 11. The fan group let him have a little trial for a few games, and he’s been playing the drum via the Wrexham 12th man group ever since, following Wrexham up and down the country with the drum alongside. BBC Wales have even interviewed Mannie about his involvement at Wrexham with the drum.
Mannie’s other big interest is athletics, and he is now in his second season for Wrexham, having recently competed for North Wales. He also recently won the U20 100 meters and is now the North Wales champion. Mannie also received a invitation to take part in a photo documentary for Wrexham fans by photographer Carwyn Rhys Jones, with the pictures displayed outside Wrexham Museum with other fans.
Mannie now works at Hickory’s in Wrexham, who give him every Saturday off so he can conduct the crowd and build the atmosphere wherever the team play. They are also extremely supportive of his athletics and always take an interest in his performances.
Richard Harries
Richard decided to set up the Walk and Talk group in January 2024. It started on a Sunday with two people and now has around 25. Anyone feeling ‘down in the dumps’ or who just wants to get fit can come and join at Bradley Cricket Club.
Richard describes it as “Fresh air, walks and chats, breaking the silence and talking”. The walk starts in Gwersyllt every Sunday, and the group also hold a raffle. It is clear the group is making a huge difference to people’s lives.
Richard has been supporting people with alcohol addiction, PTSD, and those suffering due to unemployment and bereavement. They have teamed up with Gwersyllt barbers, who provide free haircuts for anyone suffering or lonely, with Richard personally covering the costs.
Local businesses have got involved with The Lemon Tree and Levant donating food to the group. They have also organised free kickboxing sessions at Barry’s Gym. Twenty-four people from the group climbed Snowdon this year.
Richard will use the prize money from this award to create a Christmas Toy Chest. Anyone struggling to buy their children presents for Christmas can get in touch. A collection point will be available over two days in December from Gwersyllt Barbers Shop.
Amazing work, Richard. the Wrexham Recognition Awards think what you are doing is fantastic!
We hope you enjoyed reading about the Wrexham Recognition Awards. Read more about last year’s Wrexham Recognition Awards here.
