Community Group of the Year and Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year nominee – Meir Watch and Tracey Edwards

Community Group of the Year and Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year nominee – Meir Watch and Tracey Edwards

A Facebook post by Tracey Edwards 12 years ago has grown into a community support group with more than 18,000 followers.

Tracey and her Meir Watch group are involved in a long list of activities to support people throughout the community including events and activities for children, free school uniform and meals during school holidays, support with gardening, promoting the area and its businesses and much more.

During the pandemic Tracey, 36, stepped up to give much needed guidance and mental health support.

The mum of three has been praised for providing what has become a vital lifeline for many within her community.

She has been nominated as a Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year in the Your Heroes Awards and Meir Watch has been nominated as a Community Group of the Year.

James Weaver said: “Tracey put out 1,000 teddies over lockdown and supported us all by giving food parcels throughout and video so we knew what was happening.

“Meir was a shell and she has worked hard to fill the town up. All businesses support Tracey and contribute to the things she does. That includes Easter eggs she collects from the businesses and sweets that she hides in plastic eggs so that all kids get an egg or sweets.

“At Halloween there are gift bags and at Christmas she collects toys with Caverswall Scout Club and members.

“She promotes health and wellbeing and shares what is available. She even gets our potholes sorted. She planted flowers in the town and painted our planters and benches. She also does litter picks – a lot of them.

“She’s just selfless. There even does mental health messages and give outs because she knows we are all struggling. She even gives out seed and pots so we can grow things ourselves.

“I’ve seen her find lost animals and even solve crimes. I am proud to be from Meir. Tracey deserves a thank you. I’ve missed a lot of what she does but I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”

Mickey Boulton said: “Tracey has been there all the time for the past 11 years. She finds our animals and lost items. She promotes the town, which is now bursting with business. She supports all the schools.

“I have never seen anyone so kind and thoughtful. She has stood up for us when we needed it the most.

“She has this presence, when you’re around her you feel safe. I can’t think of a better person to receive a thank you.”

Tracey said she was surprised but very happy to be nominated for a Your Heroes Award.

She said: “I put a post on Facebook about 12 years ago and it spread from there. The more I did, the more people responded. We just seem to do everything – people inbox me and I try to help them if I can. Apart from my three kids, Meir Watch is my main focus.”