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Dec 2020

Last Updated: 22/12/2020

Community

New Year search for Ripon's Community Diamond

by Tim Flanagan

| 22 Dec, 2020

There will be numerous potential nominees for the Ripon Community Diamond Award when the search for the winner of a prize worth up to £1,000 begins in the New Year.

In the New Year, the Stray Ferret will begin the search for an outstanding individual who has gone the extra mile to help others during the coronavirus crisis, with an incredible prize from The Vintage Room in Ripon.

The winner will receive a 25 point diamond that they can have put in a gold or white gold setting to create their own customised piece of jewellery, a prize worth up to £1,000.

The Ripon Community Diamond Award was the idea of Mike and Liz Cooper, who run Red Buttons jewellers in Queen Street, Ripon, and supported by Hedley Hall, whose antiques and collectables business is run from the same Vintage Room premises.

Liz said:

"We are delighted to be partnering with the Stray Ferret in the search for the man or woman, living or working in Ripon, who has really made a difference through their selfless service to the community. Because of the community spirit that we know exists in Ripon, we are sure that there will be numerous suitable candidates who can be nominated for the award."

Hedley pointed out:

"Since March, we have been reading, on a regular basis, stories on the Stray Ferret website about acts of kindness and compassion from people in the Ripon area who have come to the aid of those stuck in isolation, or in need of other kinds of assistance."

Mike said:

"In the eight years that we have been in business in Ripon, we have seen its community spirit. We wanted to find a way to recognise those who are the beating heart of this city."

Nominations for the Ripon Community Diamond Award will open in January.