Career
In 2014, Nicholson became one of the youngest people in the country to be awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen"s New Years Honours List 2014
In March 2008, Nicholson was appointed a trustee of the Firthmoor & District Community Association, he was then elected chairman at the charities Annual General Meeting in the July of that year, becoming Darlington"s youngest community leader
Nicholson lead programme aimed at revamping and modernising the local community centre initial consultations took place with local residents about the plans which included reverting to the community centre"s former name of Firthmoor Community Centre
Nicholson became chairman in a time when the charity was dealing with a number internal issues, including restrictions to the charty"s income streams however despite the operational and funding challenges, new projects, initiatives and activities were encouraged to make use of the community centre, such as community fun days, charity social evenings, community newsletters and day trips away, a community sponsorship campaign was also launched
Most notably Nicholson has been involved with the community centre solar panels project and the community café refurbishment in addition Nicholson supported the set up of a regular National Health Service blood donation service and new National Health Service dental surgery at the community centre
Nicholson was officially presented with the British Empire Medal by the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Mrs Sue Snowdon, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, at ceremony held at Firthmoor Community Centre in Darlington
Nicholson publicly supported Darlington Borough Council"s plans to merge two secondary schools into a £25m academy
In May 2011 Local Government elections, Nicholson stood as an independent candidate for one of the three Eastbourne council ward seats on Darlington Borough Council, Nicholson received 423 votes, taking a 27.13% share of vote, coming 4th out of 10 candidates
On the 7th January 2015, Nicholson announced his intention to stand as an independent candidate in the Local Government elections. He announced his intention to stand as an Independent Candidate in the Eastbourne Ward. Speaking to the Northern Echo Nicholson said: “I am passionate about my local area, I care about its future, I’ve been working hard for several years to make things better for local people and I certainly want to do more, he added: “I want to bring the town hall to people’s doorstep, with a new fresh approach to politics.
