For their extensive voluntary endeavour and community consideration, 31 exceptional individuals, groups and businesses have been celebrated as community champions within North Kesteven.
Each one was a finalist within the NK Community Champion Awards 2024 which look to award and applaud those who make a significant contribution to life locally through their generosity of spirit, voluntary contributions and community-minded action.
Representative of the hundreds more people, groups and businesses that improve outcomes for people and places locally through an immense collective expression of thoughtful concern, they came together for a celebration at the Hub in Sleaford where their stories were shared and an ultimate champion within each category named.
The evening was a showcase for the enormous extent of volunteering that enriches life across North Kesteven, championing everyone who contributes through generosity of spirit, voluntary endeavour and community-minded consideration.
While these 31 finalists were singled-out as exemplars of such action – from almost 100 nominations made across 11 categories – the ethos of the NK Community Champion Awards is to shine a light on everyone who contributes to enhancing lives and localities throughout the District through their expressions of community spirited kindness and by sheer stint of enthusiasm and energy; all of whom are champions within their community, for their community, and of their community.
From delivering a complex community-wide fast fibre broadband installation, committing over decades to a church, or instilling a climate-conscious food culture in school, to being an actively-engaged good neighbour, champions of girls football, wildlife-focused gardening or men’s mental health, encouraging and entertaining through theatre, putting people before profit and enlivening community spirit by initiating youth clubs and village activities, the 11 award winners all enrich daily life through their selfless, tireless and voluntary action.
Each winner spoke of the pleasure their activities bring to themselves, the sense of contributing to something bigger and how being helpful gave them reason to get up; the enjoyment and pride they feel in making a positive difference and the love they have for their community. The sense in each one’s selfless expression was, as Longstanding Contributor Janet Johnson put it, ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’.
District Council Leader Cllr Richard Wright told them, “You are the people who make our communities happier, healthier and more supportive places to live. You really are the champions of, from and for our communities, and I thank you all, for all that you do.”
He had told a meeting of MPs he was invited to address that night, ‘I have somewhere more important to be’.
“It’s important for us to acknowledge and champion the immense amount of voluntary endeavour and many acts of thoughtful kindness that make life within North Kesteven so special; championing those individuals and organisations at the heart of our District of Flourishing Communities.
“These awards are our small way of turning the spotlight on the selfless many who contribute so much to enriching lives and locations and enabling the people and places of North Kesteven to flourish. Those who we’ve awarded and applauded are only fraction of a much broader response of community-minded thoughtfulness.”
There were 100 nominations made across ten categories that reflect the ways through which residents and businesses make positive contributions within our communities; with a new award created this year to acknowledge an extraordinary level of voluntary endeavour deserving of recognition. From these a panel of judges representing the sponsor businesses and organisations that fund the awards programme, selected the finalists and determined each category winner.
Compere Melvyn Prior said the evening had been ‘totally inspiring’; “getting a sense of and celebrating just a tiny fraction of all that volunteering excellence undertaken within communities here in North Kesteven.”
“It is truly remarkable the difference these people make, either individually or in groups. These awards celebrate the very best in what makes us human, and what keeps us connected and it is heartening to sense the sheer volume of volunteering that goes on locally and the weight of thoughtful responses.”
Across the 11 categories, the 31 finalists in the NK Community Champion Awards for 2024 were:
Contribution to Arts & Culture – sponsored by the Hub, Sleaford
Winner:
Kei Bailey, Heckington – for motivating, engaging and entertaining hundreds of people through his passion for theatre craft.
Other finalists :
- Vi Hill, Sleaford – for promoting a lively and active participatory music scene in Sleaford over many years;
- Jock McLelland – for contributing extensively to a lively and active music scene locally.
Contribution to a Better Environment – sponsored by Equans, the Council’s partner in improving the efficiency of council homes
Winner:
Ada Trethewey, Sleaford – for promoting principles of sustainable gardening and promoting biodiversity gain.
Other finalists:
- Carol Shelford, Ruskington – for showing deep consideration for, and actively working towards, cleaner, nicer places;
- White Cross Lane Toad Patrol, Sleaford – for intervening to protect and safeguard many thousands of toads over recent years.
Contribution to Climate Action – sponsored by Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant and Schroders Greencoat
Winner:
Washingborough Academy school – for educating, engaging and inspiring future generations in responsible resource use and consumption.
Other finalists:
- Paul Rea & Nicola Jones, Bassingham – for leading on the creation of a Parish Woodland for Bassingham;
- Sleaford Repair Café, Sleaford – for repurposing and repairing hundreds of objects, extending their usefulness and reducing wasteful consumption of resources;
Contribution to Health & Wellbeing – sponsored by Branston Ltd
Winner:
Broken XI Cricket Club, based in Holdingham – for actively promoting and safeguarding better mental health, wellbeing and outcomes for men;
Other finalists:
- Jimmy Dexter, Sleaford – for actively promoting and safeguarding better physical and mental health outcomes;
- Alexandra Goldstraw, Digby – for actively creating a collaborative, encouraging and enriching space to facilitate physical and mental wellbeing for women.
Contribution to Sport – sponsored by Better, operator of NKDC’s leisure service
Winner:
Carole Simpson, North Hykeham – for transforming grassroots football locally and making it more inclusive for girls, in particular.
Other finalists:
- Chris Bowman, Sleaford – for the many ways in which he supports Sleaford United FC;
- Chris Bradshaw, Metheringham – for investing considerable time and energy in support of the Metheringham u16s football team;
Longstanding Contribution to a Group or Organisation – sponsored by the Ruddocks, in its 140th year of trading
Winner:
Janet Johnson, Silk Willoughby – for dedicating considerable time and energy for the benefit of St Denis' Church in particular, in so many ways over 62 years;
Other finalists:
- Garry Goodge, Sleaford – for dedicating considerable time and energy for the benefit of Sleaford Little Theatre, in so many ways over 48 years;
- Ralph Wilford, Potterhanworth – for dedicating considerable time and energy for the benefit of Potterhanworth village, in so many ways over 60 years.
Community Business – sponsored by MKM Sleaford
Winner:
Nicky Edlin, Creations Hair & Nails, Skellingthorpe – for showing such sincere consideration for the wellbeing of her customers;
Other finalists:
- The Horseshoes, Silk Willoughby – for ensuring the pub contributes so much to community wellbeing;
- The Wheatsheaf, Waddington – for supporting the community, not least by providing opportunity for other businesses and services.
Good Neighbour – sponsored by Ian Williams, the Council’s housing repairs partner
Winner:
Barbara Saunders, North Hykeham – for initiating a range of events and activities with neighbourliness in mind.
Other finalists:
- Simon Chambers, Wilsford – for the support, provision and protection offered to neighbours;
- Andy & Joy Wood – for thoughtful acts in cheering up the community.
Young Achiever – sponsored by Lafford Homes, building for the future
Winner:
Amelia Clough, Greylees – for fundraising, promoting and progressing research to help other children sharing the same rare medical condition;
Other finalists:
- Malik Bodiba, North Scarle – for supporting and mentoring younger boys, in particular, in expressing themselves through dance;
- Eden Crawford-Samkin, Thorpe on the Hill – for volunteering with the Youth Dance Hub to support other dancers.
Community Spirit – sponsored by Lindum Group
Winner:
Hannah McFaul, Navenby – for developing a programme of events and activities, promoting community cohesion in Navenby;
Other finalists:
- Judy Dickin, Branston – for initiating and operating a range of initiatives to ensure people are welcomed and well supported locally;
- Maddie Parker, Nocton – for extensive, active and wide-ranging contributions to village life.
Additionally – a special award for Contribution to Community Resilience – in recognition of Simon Enstone’s work in delivering an ambitious fast fibre broadband connectivity for North & South Rauceby.
To champion and thank others who improve life locally through their generous actions, volunteering and community spirit, nominations for 2025’s awards can be made now and at anytime at www.nkawards.org
The awards are only made possible through the generous sponsorship of the award sponsors – this year: Ruddocks, Ian Williams Ltd, Lindum Group, Branston Ltd, Better, Hub Sleaford, Equans, Sleaford REP / Schroder Greencoat, Lafford Homes and MKM Sleaford.
Fittingly, the evening also featured a performance of the winning 2024 Song for Lincolnshire by Ian Tumilty which celebrates all of the unsung heroes operating within communities, always helping where they can.