A WOMAN who helped to bring the old and young together in South Derbyshire has been nominated for a Community Champions award.

Gill Farrington was one of three people who set up the Swadlincote and District 50+ Forum five years ago.

Since then, she has helped set up a book club, computer classes and debate group to allow different generations to learn from each other.

The group, which Gill leads, has grown from 11 members to more than 600, with at least 80 youngsters benefiting from its work.

Gill, 66, said she dedicated up to five days a week to helping to run the forum and its projects.

She has been nominated for the award by friend Gill Clarke, who said: "Gill is dedicated to her community and all her work is done as a volunteer.

"She constantly strives to get funding to set up new groups, always remains positive and delivers the best she can."

Gill, who lives in Pennine Way, Swadlincote, said she was delighted to have been put forward for the award.

She said: "It's brilliant that the forum has been recognised for the work it tries to do for others.

"When I was first told I'd been nominated for an award I thought it was a joke.

"We don't want thanks for what we do but it is nice to know someone thinks we're doing a good job."

A year after the forum first started, Gill decided to introduce a book club for both young and old.

The club was designed to improve children's reading skills and break down the preconceptions both parties might have about each other.

Four years ago, the forum started running computer classes, at which youngsters teach older people how to use technology. The classes started with one session being held once every two weeks, but now there are six daily classes.

Gill said: "The children will sit with an adult and they are not allowed to touch the keyboard.

"When the adult needs to do something, the children have to talk them through it without just doing it themselves.

"There are a lot of older people in the area who really want to learn about computers and the youngsters learn how to teach – it's a learning curve for both."

The forum has its own choir, which visits nursing homes and sheltered accommodation, debate groups, exercise classes and drama sessions.

It also holds committee meetings once a month and open meetings for at least 300 people every three months.

The forum has been awarded £10,000 and free broadband for 18 months for its work with children and the elderly.

The Derby Telegraph has teamed up with BBC Radio Derby, Derbyshire Building Society, Derby City Council and Derby County FC for the Community Champions awards.

On Sunday, May 16, our 14 winners will be invited to a ceremony at Pride Park Stadium.

Nomination forms can be found at www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/champions or www.bbc.co.uk/derby.

They also appear regularly in the Derby Telegraph or they can be collected from BBC Radio Derby in St Helen's Street, Derby, and Derbyshire Building Society.

Send them to Caroline Jones, Community Champions, Derby Evening Telegraph, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby DE1 2BH, by Friday, April 2.