Quick Facts
Biography
Kevin Nicholson BEM is a British politician, currently serving as a Councillor on Darlington Borough Council, and the former chairman of Firthmoor & District Community Association based in the Firthmoor area of Darlington.
Community Work
In March 2008, Nicholson was appointed a trustee of the Firthmoor & District Community Association, and was elected chairman at the charity's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in July of that year, becoming Darlington's youngest community leader. After consultation with local residents, Nicholson made a series of modernising changes at the association, including reverting to the community centre's former name of Firthmoor Community Centre.
Despite facing financial difficulties as a result of a cut in council funding, Nicholson oversaw other improvements to the community centre itself, including a refurbishment of the cafe, and the installation of solar panels on the roof of the building. As chairman he also launched a community sponsorship campaign to raise funds for the association.
Nicholson stepped down as Chairman of the community association in October 2016.
Political career
In 2005, Nicholson was elected to the UK Youth Parliament as a Member of Youth Parliament representing young people in Darlington. Nicholson supported Darlington Borough Council's plans to merge two secondary schools into a £25m academy. In 2006, he was awarded Darlington's first Young Citizen of the Year Award for outstanding services to the community.
On the 7 January 2015, Nicholson announced his intention to stand as an independent candidate in the 2015 Darlington Borough Council elections. He was elected with 1,142 votes, taking 45% of the vote, the largest vote share in that ward.
Honours
In 2014, Nicholson became one of the youngest people in the country to be awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2014 New Years Honours, awarded for services to the community, in particular for voluntary work helping to revamp the Firthmoor Community Centre in Darlington. Nicholson was presented with the medal by the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Sue Snowdon, on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, at a ceremony at Firthmoor Community Centre.