Honorary Townsperson Award

Last night (April 12th), family, friends and member of Prout Bridge staff assembled in the Town Hall in Beaminster for the Honorary Townsperson Award ceremony. The last time this was held was 2017 when it was awarded to the late Gil Streets (the founder of the Prout Bridge Project and inspiration behind the name of our outreach bus, among many other things). This year we were in attendance for Paula Tuff, Director of Prout Bridge for her services to the community and young people.

To be in contention for the award first someone has to nominate the person. The nominator has to then find and secure 5 other people in the local community to write a letter to council detailing why the nominee should get the award. After that, the town council vote in secret and if 2 members reject the nomination, the award cannot be given. Fortunately, more than 5 people were willing to write a letter and no one on the town council rejected the proposal, meaning that Paula’s name is written on the board in the town hall, she owns an Honorary Townsperson scroll and a parking permit for the car parks in Beaminster.

Paula attended the Youth club as a teenager before being offered senior youth worker role and working up the ranks to youth worker in charge. When the funding for the youth services was cut in 2016, she and Gil worked tirelessly to set up the Prout Bridge Project (formerly The Phoenix Youth Club in Beaminster) to continue the service that was so valued by young people and the community of Beaminster alike. Paula still works tirelessly providing providing targeted support in local schools, weekly youth club sessions and summer activity clubs as well as endlessly looking for new ways to keep the project open and running for everyone - including two very successful crowd funding campaigns.

Well done to the other 3 nominees on their ascension to Honorary Townsperson! If you keep an eye on the Beaminster Town Council social media pages you will see photos of the other award winners.