Green Gym champion
554. Ernie Woodrow
Ernie Woodrow is the Chair of the Norwich Community Green Gym, an innovative project that combines conservation and exercise.
Despite taking early retirement as a result of illness, Ernie leads a team of volunteers with physical and mental disabilities who keep fit by completing a range of outdoor tasks including litter picking, gardening, path clearing and growing vegetables in the gym’s allotment.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“Ernie is the heart and soul of this innovative voluntary conservation group. By getting his team involved in conservation work in the outdoors, he is providing volunteers with opportunities to improve their fitness, while taking care of green spaces in their community.”
Ernie’s local MP, Chloe Smith said:
“I want to offer my congratulations to Ernie on receiving the Points of Light Award; his commitment to supporting community members with physical and mental health issues is heart-warming and such an asset to Norwich.”
Ernie said:
“I would like to say thank you to the Prime Minister for this fantastic award. I carry out conservation work on some beautiful sites in Norwich with many brilliant volunteers. I think the best thing is the wonderful social life, which I have found over the years has been a big help for coping with my health problems”