At the February Parish Council meeting, Wem Rural Parish Council (WRPC) was proudly awarded the runner-up position for the SALC President’s Award, recognising our outstanding contributions to the local community. The award was presented by Katrina Baker, President of the Shropshire Association of Local Councils (SALC), who shared her admiration for WRPC’s dedication and success:
“It was an honour, as well as a pleasure, to attend the Parish Council meeting and to meet the people who so admirably represent their community. It was very clear to see the enthusiasm and dedication, which obviously contributed to the successes and achievements of the council. This ultimately was exactly what we were looking for in a nomination for the SALC President’s Award. Congratulations to everyone involved.”
The recognition comes in acknowledgment of the hard work and commitment that WRPC has shown in supporting and enhancing the local community. As runners-up, we are incredibly proud of the achievements that have led us to this prestigious recognition. Some of the key highlights include:
- A New Clerk and Stronger Leadership: After the resignation of our long-serving clerk, WRPC made the decision to train and mentor a new, highly motivated clerk, passionate about growing the local economy. The newly qualified clerk, with a background in digital media, has reinvigorated local business engagement and has been instrumental in furthering the council’s goals.
- Collaboration with Wem Town Council: WRPC successfully rekindled partnerships with Wem Town Council and other key stakeholders. These collaborations resulted in a series of free events aimed at supporting local businesses and community groups.
- North Shropshire’s First International Women’s Day Event: WRPC hosted a successful International Women’s Day event in partnership with local businesses, funded by Full Fibre, who donated £1000. This event was a huge success, with its impact enhanced by fortnightly coffee and cake networking meetings for women in business.
- Health and Wellbeing Event: Building on the success of previous events, WRPC hosted a health and wellbeing event at Wem Town Hall, supported by Freedom Fibre’s sponsorship. This event provided local businesses and community groups with free opportunities to exhibit, with over 40 attendees benefiting from the event.
- Spacehive Campaigns and Community Support: WRPC has also successfully run Spacehive campaigns, raising £2,000 to print walking guides as part of a collaborative project with Wem P3. Our ongoing commitment to supporting women’s initiatives led to a new campaign for International Women’s Day, with additional donations from the Wem Rotary Club to help break down gender barriers.
These achievements are a testament to WRPC’s ability to work collaboratively with other councils, community groups, and businesses, fostering strong partnerships to benefit the local community. Our ability to adapt and grow through partnerships has already led to new opportunities.
We are incredibly proud of this recognition and remain committed to continuing our work to improve the wellbeing of our community and support local businesses.
For more information about WRPC’s activities, please visit our website or contact us directly.
