Julie and Damieon head to the palace to receive British Citizen Awards

The plush Palace of Westminster welcomed 29 individuals from around the UK who were awarded the prestigious British Citizen Award for their exceptional endeavours which have positively impacted communities up and down the country.

And two of those 29 - Julie Stansfield and Damieon Hartley-Pickles - did Oldham proud by being recognised for their unstinting efforts.

The British Citizen Award, in partnership with One Stop, is now in its ninth year and recognises an elite group of exceptional individuals in January and July each year.

The January 2023 cohort of medalists have collectively been responsible for over £7.25m in fundraising, have impacted over 272,000 individuals, and have been committed to their chosen causes for over 395 years.

Each person selected to receive the BCA Medal of Honour as a legacy for their achievements, richly deserves the right to use the letters BCA after their name in perpetual recognition of the nation’s gratitude.

Among the 29 honoured was Damieon, who lives near Heaton Park, and Julie, from Oldham, who received the BCA for Services Volunteering and Charitable Giving and BCA for Services to the Community respectively.

Damieon was presented with his Medal of Honour by Rhiannon Whelan, Head of Retail Operations from BCA Partner One Stop and TV presenter and Patron of the BCA, Nick Knowles, who hosted the event.

Damieon has served Oldham's local communities as a police officer for over 20 years, for the last 15 has volunteered running the police Sports and Social Club where he regularly organised events, including the Children’s Christmas party, for over 200 children and families.

Over the years he has worked with local charities to donate presents to Oldham schools, hospitals and churches through the Cash4Kids charity and local radio stations, always Making sure no child went without at Christmas. 

Always keen to make a difference, Damieon, aka BARROWTHONMAN, has run multiple marathons, 10K runs and triathlons, pushing a police emblazoned wheelbarrow wearing a full police Panda suit, raising thousands of pounds for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice and Mahdlo YouthZone.

His latest venture is upcycling wood, bringing back to life old park benches as well as recycling wood into useful household products such as chopping boards, fruit bowls, funds from this are donated to Mahdlo Youth Zone where Damieon is an Honorary Patron.

Mahdlo is a community youth group for young people from all backgrounds and ethnicities within Oldham, offering a safe, social space teaching life skills in a positive way.

Damieon is always thinking of new ways to raise money and inspire the younger generation to give back.

Julie was presented with her Medal of Honour by Jo Delbridge, Corporate Reputation Director and Director of PR from long-term sponsors, Specsavers, and TV presenter and Nick Knowles.

Recognising that many individuals are disempowered and face difficulties from societal views for those who need support due to age, being disabled or due to long term health issues, Julie was pivotal in setting up In Control Partnerships to amplify the issues.

In-Control works by representing people to find a win-win outcome, avoiding lengthy, costly legal battles or convoluted complaints, preferring to mediate a resolution and aid with tactics to enable people to get the support that they are entitled to.

In-Control hosts the 'Be Human' and 'Social Care Futures' movements which encourages statutory services to fully involve people who draw on support to be involved in decisions about their care.

Julie believes that the law, although good, is not always being delivered in practice.

Her mantra: "we stretch from 10 any street to 10 Downing Street to get the voices of people heard", epitomises this reach.

Julie has helped many hundreds of people achieve support - to which they're entitled - to live an ordinary life, which she believes should be everyone's practical reality.

She has helped many people and families who draw on support or are exhausted by the system to achieve what they need, to gain inclusion.

Immediately following the formal presentations, the medalists and their families boarded an open top bus for the Lap of Honour Tour courtesy of Big Bus London.

After taking in some of the iconic sights of the capital, they disembarked at Church House in Westminster for a Certificate of Honour presentation.

The certificates, presented by representatives from One Stop, Specsavers, Places for People, P&G, completed the official BCA proceedings.

Each of the organisations associated with the BCA reflects the community spirit and care for the community that the medalists are recognised for.   

The British Citizen Award was established in 2015 to recognise exceptional individuals who work tirelessly and selflessly to make a positive impact on their communities and society.

The BCA recognises true community heroes who would otherwise likely be overlooked.

Dubbed ‘The People’s Honours’, the BCA has so far recognised over 450 exceptional individuals for their divergent endeavours, making them a very exclusive group of the nation’s favourites.

Anyone with an MBE, OBE or Knighthood is ineligible for a BCA having already been deemed to have received recognition, however, anyone receiving the BCA can still be nominated for the other honours.

Nominations can be made by clicking here

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