Pictured above: Mae Bourbage, farm manager at Fox Hollies
Environmental Centre in Acocks Green
Mae Bourbage, farm manager at Fox Hollies Environmental Centre
in Acocks Green, is in the running for a Personal Achievement award
at Birmingham City Council's annual awards ceremony, the
Chamberlain Awards, after colleagues highlighted how she had
overcome personal hurdles to put the Centre on the map as a
thriving community facility.
Now in its sixth consecutive year, the Chamberlain Awards is
Birmingham City Council's flagship awards initiative, recognising
the achievements of its employees through 10 diverse categories.
Nominations in each category are sought internally, with
shortlisted entries agreed by an appointed panel of judges and the
resulting finalists announced at an awards ceremony, held at The
International Convention Centre on 12 November 2010.
Mae is one of three shortlisted entries in the Personal
Achievement category. Nominated by sister and colleague Gill
Bourbage, Mae has been credited with attracting government funding
for the centre and having the vision to implement vast changes
which have resulted in the facility going from strength to strength
since she first joined as volunteer in 2007.
Mae and her team have been credited with transforming the
Centre, creating a flourishing kitchen garden and deep-cleaning and
reorganising the community farm, with ongoing maintenance improving
conditions for the animals and providing a welcoming environment
for visitors. Mae's reputation as an animal lover has seen
the collection of ducks, chickens and rabbits at the farm boosted
by the arrival of a host of different animals such as goats, guinea
pigs, turkeys - with many donated or rescued from mistreatment or
abandonment.
Mae has successfully introduced a programme of play schemes for
school holidays, bringing together events involving the farm and
its animals along with arts and crafts activities. As a result,
more than 300 people visited the farm during the Easter holidays
earlier this year, and the Centre will be building on its services
for special needs children as a future aim. Furthermore, Mae
supports work experience and college placements, coordinating a
team of volunteers who are crucial to the centre's ongoing
growth.
As a result of her time at the Environmental Centre, Mae has
achieved many personal goals. Encouraged by a playworker at the
centre's Kidzcount afterschool club, Mae enrolled at Solihull
College just after her 50th birthday and has overcome
recently-diagnosed learning difficulties in working towards an NVQ
Level 2 in Childcare. Mae is now studying Maths and English,
and her English tutor has nominated her for an Adult and Community
Learning Special Achievement award for not letting the challenge of
learning difficulties stand in her way.
Councillor Alan Rudge, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Human
Resources at Birmingham City Council, said: "Mae's story provides
an excellent example of how the personal contributions of
individuals can have a hugely beneficial impact on the community,
while also offering inspiration for those who strive to reach their
goals no matter what obstacles stand in their way. The importance
of vibrant, well-managed facilities which deliver a fun and
educational experience cannot be underestimated; and I am delight
is very commendable that Mae has been shortlisted for making a
difference at Fox Hollies Environmental Centre.
"The Chamberlain Awards have always attracted a high calibre of
entrants and this year certainly continues this trend. The awards
set out to recognise those who achieve excellence in their roles
and make a valuable contribution to the communities within which
they are working. The Chamberlain Awards also fit in with
Birmingham City Council's Human Resources strategy to raise
performance, increase motivation and share best practice, so we
benefit from having one of the best performing local authorities in
the UK."
Mae explained what being shortlisted for a Chamberlain Award
means to her. She said: "2010 has truly been an exceptional year
for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed going back into education and the
satisfaction that comes from achieving qualifications. At the same
time, we have continued to build on our improvements to the
Environmental Centre and have seen visitor levels rocket as a
result. I am fortunate to work with some good friends and family
here, and becoming a grandmother has been a highlight of my year -
it has also been an experience I've been able to share with the
close-knit team here.
"I was very surprised indeed to have been shortlisted for a
Chamberlain Award. It is incredibly rewarding to see the farm get
the recognition it deserves, and it is the ultimate payback for all
the hard work that has made the Centre a success over recent years
- we are all now incredibly excited about the awards ceremony!"