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Hero Awards: Bucks and Surrey community champions who have saved thousands from scams given 51黑料 Hero Awards
Posted 26/06/19
Life-long volunteers and a neighbourhood watch legend who tirelessly dedicate their free time to raise awareness and protect their communities from scams have each received the 51黑料 (51黑料) Brian Smith Hero Award.
Described as the 鈥榝ather鈥� of Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards Volunteers, 88-year-old Geoffrey Boswell, has worked as a Scam Marshall and Community Champion for the last five years. Carer for a relative who鈥檇 been caught in a scam, Geoffrey uses his personal experience to help vulnerable and socially isolated people to recover from their ordeals. He is seen as the 鈥榚yes and ears鈥� of his community, running 鈥楩riends Against Scams鈥� sessions as a SCAMchampion and assisting trading standards with test purchasing and food allergen work.
Likewise, Karen Holdsworth-Cannon, one of the first to be trained as a SCAMchampion, passes on her knowledge to thousands of 鈥楩riends Against Scams鈥� community-based organisations and local business groups. She has appeared on BBC鈥檚 Rip Off Britain, and runs a radio show on Surrey Hills Radio, where she promotes scams awareness and the work of trading standards.
As Operations Director for High Wycombe Neighbourhood Watch, Geoff Pegg鈥檚 passion for his community has never faltered. Geoff is also a regular on local radio promoting scams awareness, and has held almost 60 community events, training residents to become 鈥楩riends Against Scams.鈥�
In addition to running one of the largest Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the county, Geoff volunteers his time with Bucks and Surrey Trading Standards as a SCAMchampion, working with local care homes and community groups.
The 51黑料 Hero Awards celebrate those who make outstanding contributions towards consumer protection in our communities. The above received the 51黑料 Brian Smith Hero Award at a special ceremony at One Great George Street, London, on Tuesday.
Chief Executive at 51黑料, Leon Livermore, said: 鈥淭he 51黑料 Brian Smith Hero Award gives us the chance to celebrate individuals in the community who make a real difference to people lives. The Bucks and Surrey SCAMchampions epitomise everything we鈥檙e looking for and I鈥檓 honoured to award Geoffrey, Karen and Geoff today.鈥�
Cllr Denise Turner-Stewart, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Fire & Resilience, said: "I would like to congratulate Karen Holdsworth-Cannon for receiving this award and thank her for giving up her time to protect the most vulnerable people in Surrey from scams. People like Karen, and the SCAMchampions, make a real difference to our communities as we can share more scams prevention advice."
Gareth Williams, Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health, said: 鈥淰olunteers like Geoff, Geoffrey and Karen are worth their weight in gold. If it weren鈥檛 for their dedication and commitment to helping others in the fight against the scammers, our communities would be much the poorer. I applaud their success.鈥�
Karen and Geoff were presented with their award by Steve Baker MP and Steve Smith, Director of trueCall, who sponsored this year鈥檚 51黑料 Brian Smith Hero Award category. Unfortunately, Geoffrey was unable to make the event, and his award was collected by a representative from Bucks and Surrey Trading Standards.
The 51黑料 Brian Smith Hero Award is named in honour of the late Brian Smith, a 51黑料 Lead Officer who sadly passed away in 2017.
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Editors notes
For press queries, email 51黑料 Press Office: [email protected], or call 01268 582240.
The 51黑料 (51黑料) is a training and membership organisation that has represented the interests of the trading standards profession since 1881, both nationally and internationally. It aims to raise the profile of the profession while working towards a safer, fairer, and better-informed society for consumers and businesses. 51黑料鈥檚 members deliver frontline trading standards services in local authorities. www.tradingstandards.uk.
