Sharon and Jon Clarke – Charity Champion or Volunteer nomination

Sharon and Jon Clarke – Charity Champion or Volunteer nomination

Pub landlords Sharon and Jon Clarke have set up a community pantry for people in hardship and raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Dougie Mac Hospice.

The couple, who have run The Ashwood in Longton for 14 years, also raised the funds to install a defibrillator and a bleed control kit which have both since been used in real life emergencies.

Every Christmas they put together hundreds of food hampers for people in need and fill the pub with toys for families.

Sharon, aged 58, and Jon, aged 53, have been nominated in the Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards.

Their nominator said: “Sharon and Jon are much more than the landlord and landlady of the Ashwood pub. They are at the heart of their community, quietly helping people when they need it most and, in some cases, helping to save lives.

“Over a number of years Sharon and Jon have raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Dougie Mac, giving their time, energy and the platform of their business to support one of our area’s most important charities. But their contribution goes much further.

“They raised the funds to install a defibrillator at the Ashwood as well as a bleed control kit. These were not simply well-intentioned additions to the pub, both have already been called upon in real emergencies and used to help save lives. That alone demonstrates the extraordinary impact Sharon and Jon have had on their local community.

“They also run the Ashwood Community Pantry, supporting individuals and families from across the city who are experiencing hardship. Working with referrals from within the community and crisis support services, they make sure that people facing incredibly difficult circumstances can access food and essential items with dignity.

“At Christmas that commitment becomes even more visible through their annual Christmas Toy Appeal. At a time when many families are struggling with the cost of living Sharon and Jon help ensure parents who may otherwise be unable to afford presents have something for their children to open on Christmas morning.

“The hospitality industry has faced enormously challenging trading conditions yet Sharon and Jon have continued to find the time, resources and determination to support others while running their own business.

“Sharon has faced significant ongoing health battles including developing sepsis on numerous occasions over recent years. Despite everything she has been through her instinct, alongside Jon, has remained to help other people.

“There are people across Stoke-on-Trent whose lives have been made safer, easier or simply a little brighter because Sharon and Jon decided to do something.

“Sharon and Jon don’t do these things for recognition. They do them because they genuinely care about the people and the city around them. That is exactly what a community hero should be. This award could not go to two more deserving people.”

Sharon said she was surprised to have been nominated for a Your Heroes Award and that the fundraising and community work is only possible because of the support of a core team of pub regulars.

She said: “I’ve got a really good team of people behind me. When we do anything they all take on their own roles to make it help. They always tell me it was my idea but they’re fantastic people.”

Their most recent fundraiser raised more than £3,000 through just one event.

She added: “Someone suggested we put a cardboard box on a window ledge with a tin of soup to be taken by anyone who needs it. I thought we could do better than that.

“We cleared out the main storeroom and turned it into a community pantry with fridge, freezer and shelves for tins. If people can’t get to the pub we go out and deliver to them. A recent example was a lady who had just come out of hospital and was thankful for tea, coffee and a loaf of bread.”