Our story so far…
Edlington Community Organisation (ECO) is a community charity based at Yorkshire Main Community Centre, Edlington.
Our aim is to improve and regenerate Edlington and its surrounding areas to make it a better place to live for all generations present and yet to come, and as a charity, we thrive off community involvement and partnership working alongside various groups and businesses.
ECO was formed by a broad section of community representatives and residents in 2000 who wanted to make a difference and create a voice for the community.
Originally based in a porta cabin at the former Stubbins Hill Community Centre, we moved to a community office on Main Avenue in the early 2000s and later relocated to Yorkshire Main Community Centre in 2010 to serve our community in a more predominant location within Edlington, creating a central hub accessible to anyone.
We have a bank of support services and advisors who will always aim to point you in the right direction, if we can’t help most often we know who can.
ECO is managed by a volunteer board of trustees who either represent a community group or themselves as an individual resident of Edlington or Warmsworth and have a members list consisting of residents, groups, businesses and local service providers to form a network of support.
ECO has achieved over 1 million pounds in funding and contracts to provide essential community services since its formation.
This is a fantastic achievement for Edlington and we should be proud as an ex-mining community of the positive achievements and partnerships we have in our village.
Meet Team ECO
Samantha Siddall MBE
Manager
Heading up the team is our manager Sam who has been with ECO for over 20 years and has raised almost 1 million pounds in funding and fundraising since she started he journey with the charity. Starting as a volunteer in her teens she has driven the organization through many obstacles and her dedication was recognized in 2020 when she was awarded an MBE for her services to the community. At the helm, she is passionate about investing in local people and providing opportunities for all ages.
Dianne Vicarage
Community Cupboard Officer
Leading our emergency food and crisis services, Di, or “Big D” as we like to call her (as she’s super tall)
popped into Santa’s Grotto back in 2015, just to help clean up tinsel, glitter, and Christmas baubles and again has never looked back. Di is part-time but spends every day in the community centre (we secretly think she does it to get away from her significant other) supporting those with emergency food parcels and their weekly shop in the community cupboard. Di has her partner in crime.
Cath Siddall
Community Volunteer
Cath is a long-serving trustee and dedicated volunteer. Cath supports all of the operations within the charity and spends every day in the community centre (we secretly think she does it to get away from her significant other…. Can you see a pattern?)
4ft Cath and 7ft Di are an awesome duo and definitely double trouble.
Julie Richards
Domestic Engineer (Cleaner)
Keeping things squeaky clean and smelling fresh is our long-serving cleaner, Julie. She is crazy enough to wake up at 5 am and start her shift in the community centre at 6 am so the building is spik and span ready for a full day of activities. Julie has worked her way through 3 hoovers, 15 mop buckets, and endless amounts of cleaning clothes and polish in her 10 years of service and was an essential cog in the delivery of our services during the pandemic when her cleaning went up a notch to ensure the team stayed safe and able to deliver their essential services.
ECO Volunteers
We currently have an army of 70+ volunteers who range in age from 5 to our eldest volunteer Madge who has recently turned 83. Madge is our most vintage volunteer and anyone who has had the privilege of meeting her is in awe of her sprightly and energetic character. She is called “Nanny Madge” and gives up hundreds of hours to help with a range of projects within our organisation and helps to shape our youth volunteers into positive community role models
The majority of our volunteers have previously accessed our support services prior to becoming a volunteer. These people understand more than anyone, the needs of our community as they have lived experiences of poverty and disadvantage. They are heavily involved in decision-making and are committed to developing the skills and attributes of local people. This is highlighted by the fact that all paid members of staff were former volunteers before gaining paid employment within our charity.
Here you will find a list of awards ECO has greatly received for the continuous and positive work we do within the community and for the community.
2015 Doncaster CVS Most Innovative Project for Slipper Swaps
2015 Doncaster CVS Senior Volunteer of the Year, Nora Caiger
2015 Bevan Prize for Health and Wellbeing
2016 Efficiency North Community Initiative of the Year
2016 St Leger Homes Community Champion Samantha Siddall
2016 St Leger Homes Community Group of the Year
2016 Doncaster Free Press Pride Award for Love When You Live
2016 Doncaster CVS Registered Charity of the Year
2017 Lions International Outstanding Support for Edlington / Warmsworth
2018 St Leger Homes Lifetime Achievement Award, Maureen Tennison
2018 St Leger Homes Good Neighbour Award, Madge Taylor
2019 St Leger Homes Community Group of the Year
2019 St Leger Homes Community Champion, Catherine Siddall
2019 St Leger Homes Youth Volunteer, Harper Matthews
2019 BBC Radio Sheffield Community Champion, Community Group of the Year
2020 Queens Honour’s List awarded to Samantha Siddall MBE
2023 an a “CHOIRed Taste” Runners up for the St Leger Tenants Choice Awards, Wellbeing Category.
2023 St Leger Homes Community Warrior, Maureen Tennison