Crystal trophies have been awarded to winners described as “community treasures” in South Kesteven District Council’s SK Community Awards.
More than 100 nominations flooded into the council’s new awards competition from all corners of the district.
Winners included a five-year-old boy waging war on litter, an air cadet training stalwart, a young LIVES community first responder and a funeral director with a difference.
Illustrating the diversity of nominations, awards also went to a food distribution heroine, a cultural ground-breaker, the founder of a fitness and wellbeing network and a community counselling charity.
Cllr Annie Mason, SKDC Cabinet Member for People and Safer Communities, launched the awards in the summer.
She said: “I knew from our work with the community over lockdown just what amazing work goes on, much of it unrecognised.
“We wanted to shine a light on that, and I am thrilled with the results. These people and organisations are simply amazing, absolute community treasures.”
All winners have been presented with inscribed trophies to mark their achievements by SKDC Cabinet members whose portfolios reflect the different award categories.
Award details:
Business in the Community Award
Jason Price, of Price & Son Funeral Directors in Grantham, scooped the Business in the Community award for his actions over and above normal company business. The runner-up was Jamie Clare of Iconic Engineering Solutions in Grantham.
The award recognises Jason’s work helping local nursing homes, Grantham’s vaccination centre, young entrepreneurs and homeless charities both with donations of goods, financially and with time from Jason and his wife Kirsty, both described as having “huge hearts”.
Typically, he stepped to help when Army policy prevented salary payment for Private Richard Lake, of the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, while he tackled a month of marathon challenges.
Price & Sons paid Richard's wage for the month while he embarked on a world record challenge by walking 26 miles every day. Part of the £6,000 raised went to Detecting for Veterans, a group run by Jason, himself a military veteran, to support a metal detecting project helping veterans with PTSD.
Jason said: “As a family run business in a small town it means a lot to us to put something back into the community. To be able to help out in times of need is an honour and we are delighted to support people where we can.”
Runner up was Jamie Clare, Iconic Engineering Solutions.
Cleaner and Greener Award
Five-year-old George Done won the Greener and Cleaner Award for his youthful determination to clean up the area around his home.
The Belton Lane Primary school pupil, who is passionate about the environment, started collecting litter on his daily walk to school.
“We were horrified at the amount of litter we passed,” said George’s mother Katie Done. “We decided to do something about it, but I wouldn’t let George pick any up until we got him a proper litter picker.”
A box under young brother Alfie’s pushchair holds the litter until Katie can dispose of it properly.
George’s good work has inspired a wave of others in his school to do the same. The school has also invested in litter pickers and gloves to clean up the local area.
Runners up were Francesca Hampton from Bourne’s Elsea Park Community Trust and Irvin and Pam Metcalf, Grantham Sunrise Rotary.
Lifetime Community Champion Award
Stephen Hullott from Gonerby Hill Foot has been named as a Lifetime Community Champion after more than 55 years of helping to train air cadets.
His nomination outlined his ‘outstanding work and influence’ in his volunteer role training and developing hundreds of teenagers and adults across Lincolnshire during his time as a member of staff of the Air Training Corps.
Wing Commander Hullott (Retd), a civil servant for 36 years with the Department of Employment and latterly with the Ministry of Defence, first joined as a cadet with 47F Grantham Squadron ATC. It was the start of a 30-year association, with the last nine spent as Officer Commanding overseeing training of cadets in aeronautical subjects, organising and attending weekend camps, attending summer camps and taking them flying and gliding.
He subsequently became Officer Commanding Trent Wing ATC, which includes Lincolnshire, organising and running training courses for cadets and staff.
Now retired, he is a civilian Instructor with Sleaford Squadron where he continues to help cadet training.
Stephen said: “Young people tend to get a lot of negative criticism these days but looking back at all those I have worked with; I can only say it’s been an absolute privilege.”
Runners up were Peter Dobney of Hanby Farms and Chris Needham, from The Danish Invader in Stamford.
Neil Smith Beyond the Call of Duty award.
A young community first responder for the Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service (LIVES) was a clear winner in the Neil Smith Beyond the Call of Duty award.
Ella Tapson has trained with and volunteered for LIVES since June 2018, responding to hundreds of 999 calls, and the 23-year-old from Little Humby is now well on her way through paramedic training.
Her nomination praised her work attending emergencies from cardiac arrests to breathing difficulties and spoke of her determination to learn new skills to ensure that lives can be saved.
Ella also raises funds for LIVES, attending community events to ensure that the charity, which is reliant on fund-raising, can support training and equipment for its first responders.
The life-saving volunteer was presented with her award by Candice Smith, whose late husband Neil, an SKDC employee up to the time of his sudden and untimely death, inspired the award. Neil saved their infant son Tommy’s life by administering CPR until medical help arrived – from a LIVES first responder.
Ella said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to help people, sometimes needing to use the defibrillator that I carry and sometimes just to sit with them until an ambulance arrives. It’s wonderful to get recognition for what we all do and the difference that first responders make.”
Runners up were Heidi Latronico-Ferris from The Deepings Apache Cub Scouts in Market Deeping and Grantham man Rob Dixon.
Community Cultural Action Award + Community Group of the Year
Stamford creative producer and artist Sam Roddan took the Community Cultural Action award for her role with Art Pop-Up, a not-for-profit arts organisation which also landed the Community Group of the Year award for its contemporary arts innovations.
One of three nominations described Sam as “the driving force behind many of Stamford’s creative artist projects”, collectively bringing joy and wellbeing to the community, tackling isolation and mental wellbeing.
Throughout lockdown Sam worked tirelessly to provide cultural activity to all ages, particularly those who are lonely or isolated.
Art Pop-Up achievements range from creating Stamford Together and The Journals Project to promoting creativity for mental health in schools with Stamford Communities and masterminding the Stamford Secret Doorstep Festival outdoor performances.
In the last 10 years Art Pop-Up has secured significant funding and worked with over 70,000 people in the local area. Despite the pandemic, the team has reached out to over 3,000 local residents last year with free opportunities.
Sam said: “It’s really heartening to be nominated for these awards. I am very proud of the work we have done in the community, and we are now busy planning for the next couple of years.”
Runners up were the White Deer Film Festival (Alastair Railton, Mark Wisdom & Adam Sandy) and Richard Barter, Stamford Arts Centre
Community Wellbeing Award + Outstanding Achievement
Don’t Lose Hope, the charity delivering counselling services for the community in and around Bourne, were dual winners, taking the Community Wellbeing Award and a special Outstanding Achievement trophy.
Nominations spoke of Nicola and Dominic Brister’s dedication to the wellbeing and mental health of the local community and how they go above and beyond normal expectations.
Both former teachers, they were described as ‘selfless in their work for the local community’.
Don’t Lose Hope, whose Man’s Shed in Abbey Gardens has a regular clientele of men calling in for a chat or to join in the latest construction project, is now expanding its counselling activities both with extra space and additional counsellors.
Its café and gift shop raise money to provide counselling services for anyone from age four upwards - free for families and certain individuals receiving benefits.
Nicola Brister said: “Don't Lose Hope is delighted to have been chosen to receive the Community Wellbeing Award and the Outstanding Achievement Award. We couldn't do it without the hard work and commitment of our staff and volunteers, and the contribution and support of our local community.
Runners up for the Community Wellbeing award were Hazel Ryan, from Grantham’s Find An Activity Buddy project and Baz Watret, Baz Watret Health and Fitness in Stamford.
Helping Hand Award
Rhea Rayside was an outstanding winner of the Helping Hand Award as the driving force that kept Stamford’s Second Helpings rescued food distribution hub going during lockdown
Pre-pandemic, Rhea was a volunteer collecting food. She put herself forward to be head of the distribution bunker and collections as the crisis deepened, bringing the community together and building relationships to meet increased need.
Last year demand on food distribution doubled between February and July, leading to the bunker expanding its opening to five days a week. Rhea organised shifts for the 60-plus volunteers, made the bunker Covid secure and reached out to local supermarkets and suppliers to increase the amount of food collected.
She also organised food parcel drops to vulnerable members of the community who were shielding or isolating, and liaised with Bluecoats, Malcolm Sargent and Welland Academy schools to arrange packed lunches for students identified as vulnerable.
Rhea said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging time for so many people and I feel proud that we have been here to help. Our volunteers give an amazing amount of their time and effort to Second Helpings and it’s a privilege to work with them.”
Runners up were Nigel Brockhurst, Grantham Foodbank, and Janet Rose from Long Bennington.
Individual of the Year Award
Five separate nominations earned Baz Watret from Ryhall the special trophy for Individual of the Year.
Each spoke of how Baz, of Baz Watret Health and Fitness, found innovative ways to keep people motivated and to stay healthy in body and mind during lockdown, including online classes twice a week and social media activity.
A frequent speaker for Men Against Mountains to help people with their mental health, he started his own business during Covid. He has since helped numerous people to build their self-esteem and change their lives through fitness, with honest conversations including discussing his own mental health issues.
One spoke of how Baz created ‘a lovely community of men and women empowered to feel better and have a positive mindset” and another of how his encouragement and knowledge around mental health was integral to helping get the nominator through the last 18 months.
Baz said: “It made me quite emotional to receive this and I thank everyone who nominated me. My aim was always to build a network so that people could find support from each other. I think we have reached that stage now and it makes me feel very proud. The next stage is to find some premises to continue the work.”
Inspirational Young Person award
Teenager Abbie Jayne Walster from Bourne won the Inspirational Young Person award for her outstanding volunteering work across the health sector during the pandemic.
Then just 18, Abbie reacted to lockdown by first sewing masks and scrubs for the NHS, joining a Love of Scrubs team of volunteers.
She also volunteered for the Good Sam's scheme, collecting groceries and prescriptions for local people who were vulnerable or needed to shield against Covid19, befriending and chatting to people on the telephone.
Abbie volunteer-marshalled at vaccination sessions, then qualified with St John Ambulance as a volunteer vaccinator. Certainly, one of the youngest vaccinators in the UK, she has worked at both the Galletly Practice in Bourne and at Springfields, Spalding.
Now 19, she has been inspired to follow her mother into nursing and is studying for a nursing degree at the Anglia Ruskin University in Peterborough.
Abbie said: “This award means a lot. The last 18 months have made me realise just how many people have put so much into supporting their communities. It would be great if they could all get an award!”
Runners up were Stacey Tagg, of Staceytastic Community Fundraising in Stamford and Sydney-Lily Reddish, Community Books, Grantham.
