NK Community Champions are awarded and applauded

Each one was a finalist within the NK Community Champion Awards 2025 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 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 33 finalists were singled-out as exemplars of such action – from around 100 distinct nominees 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.

By quietly and diligently undertaking village enhancements as individuals, or serving and supporting community need on a group scale, committing decades of voluntary service, repurposing electrical waste, championing responses to social isolation and health deterioration, encouraging sports participation, inspiring creativity, or spearheading environmental enhancement and animal care, the 11 category champions exemplify excellence by enriching 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, the enjoyment and pride they feel in making a positive difference and the love they have for their community. Community Spirit finalist Martyn Hurst characterised the motivation of all the finalists in saying, ‘I feel more alive when I’m doing something not just for me, but for the whole community. You are only on this earth once so make a difference’.

Common to all, Community Business finalist Lee Taylor identified, “There are those that live through life not helping others, or looking after others, and I just what to make the biggest impact I can in the place that I live,” and similarly Sam Pavlou from Sleaford desserts bar Waffle & Chill said: “My job is making waffles but my passion is helping people and providing something for the community. If I can see that something needs to be done or changed, that’s my passion, that’s what I want to do,” she said.

For Good Neighbour champion Stella Whitehead she said her recognition was ‘like winning the Oscars’ and Carol Nolan described how volunteering with Fairfield Community Farm in the care of its animals had ‘changed my life’ building strength and confidence.

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.”

“Your contributions in making our communities happier, healthier and more supportive places to live is inestimable. I’m not sure how you find the time to do it all, but we are all really grateful that you do.”

Acknowledging the importance of voluntary endeavour and acts of thoughtful kindness in sustaining community life and contributing to North Kesteven as a District of Flourishing Communities, Cllr Wright said that this was an important factor in the Council’s proposal for reshaping the arrangement of councils across Greater Lincolnshire, finalised only hours before.

Through this, he is advocating for councils to remain as close to communities as possible; seeking to keep them as connected and distinct as possible, ‘as we know – and it is evidenced through actions such as yours – that connected communities are strong, supportive, collaborative and caring communities; where volunteering and thoughtful expressions build everyone up; and make for better places and better outcomes.’

“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.”

In total around 150 nominations were made across 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 animal allies and, a group award created in response to the number of group responses that were championed. From these, a panel of representatives from the sponsor businesses that fund the awards programme, selected the finalists and determined each category champion.

From Lindum Group, which has consistently sponsored the Community Spirit category over the awards’ full 14 years, New Business Manager Jef Todd said, “I thank everyone who submitted a nomination. The number and quality of the submissions blow our minds each year, making the selection very difficult but beyond the few that ar awarded, everyone that does something for their community is a champion’.

Compere Melvyn Prior said: “All of our finalists are absolutely amazing and the evening has again 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 33 finalists in the NK Community Champion Awards for 2025 were:

Contribution to Animal Welfare – promoted by Council Chair Cllr Chris Goldson

Champion: Fairfield Community Farm, Ruskington Fen – for the rescue, rehoming and care by volunteers of animals.

Other finalists:

• Hollies Animal Rehoming Trust, Ruskington – for extensive voluntary efforts to facilitate the rehoming and long-term care of animals;
• Sleaford & District Cats Protection, South Rauceby – for considerable focus on the welfare and control of cats locally.

Contribution to Arts & Culture – sponsored by the Hub, Sleaford

Champion: Ruth Burrows, Sleaford – for the ways she has enriched and enabled others to develop and express themselves through art.

Other finalists:

• Alison Duncombe, North Hykeham – for the many ways she supports community performance as a volunteer theatre-maker;
• Jim McQuade, Sleaford – for his extensive contributions to the area’s music scene.

Contribution to a Better Environment – sponsored by Equans, the Council’s partner in improving the efficiency of council homes

Champion: Jo Thompson, Greylees – for her determined efforts to secure environmental enhancement and access to the old Rauceby Hospital cemeteries;

Other finalists:

• John Feneley, Sleaford – for his own volunteering and support of volunteer groups focus on nature revival;
• Anthony & Louise Warhurst, North Hykeham – for rigorously maintaining a litter-free environment locally.

Contribution to Climate Action – sponsored by Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant and Schroders Greencoat

Champion: Sleaford Climate Action Network – for the group's active participation in aspects of climate action, notably the successful E-waste campaign of spring 2025.

Other finalists:

• Anwick Parish Council – for the ways in which they have driven climate action within the community;
• Ruskington Methodist Church – for the active involvement of the church in promoting various aspects of climate consideration.

Contribution to Health & Wellbeing – sponsored by Branston Ltd

Champion: The Sleaford Snails Walking Football group – for their encouragement and support towards restored physical and mental wellbeing through the club.

Other finalists:

• Mark Bigger, North Hykeham – for his encouragement and support towards restored physical and mental wellbeing through his taekwondo club;
• Tony Scutt, North Hykeham – for his extensive efforts to raise funds and awareness of prostate cancer, impacting positively on many lives.

Contribution to Sport – sponsored by Better, operator of NKDC’s leisure service

Champion Rachel Shields, Sleaford – for her active leadership and support of young gymnasts.

Other finalists:

• Jon Edwards, Metheringham – for his active leadership within the Sleaford Maltsters Archery Club;
• Andy Wilson, Sleaford – for his active leadership as a volunteer coach at Sleaford Town Junior Football Club’s Under-11s.

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Longstanding Contribution to a Group or Organisation – sponsored by long-established business Ruddocks.

Champion: Kath Burke, Cranwell – for dedicating extensive time and energy for the benefit of the 1st Cranwell Scout Group and Scouting more widely.

Other finalists:

• Dawn Kerry, Heighington – for dedicating considerable time and energy for the benefit of the 1st Washingborough Scout Group;
• Thelma Smith, Leasingham – for committing deeply to the Laffletics sports club she set up.

Community Business – sponsored by MKM Sleaford

Champion: Duke of Wellington, Leasingham – in recognition of the vision and significant voluntary endeavour of Dave Warner, Karen Warner & Joan Lawton, through which they rescued and revitalised the pub.

Other finalists:

• Lee Taylor, Sleaford – for the many ways his businesses have supported and contributed to community life in Sleaford;
• Waffle & Chill, Sleaford – for the consideration she has shown through her business, for young people especially.

Good Neighbour – sponsored by Ian Williams, the Council’s housing repairs partner

Champion: Stella Whitehead, Metheringham – for all that she does, through the Friendship Club, and more broadly, in being a good neighbour to many.

Other finalists:

• Peter Horton, North Hykeham – for contributing in many ways, to enrich neighbours’ lives at Kesteven Court;
• Lyn Gardner, Ruskington - for supporting her community in a neighbourly way through the Ruskington & Dorrington Hospital Voluntary Car Service.

Community Group – sponsored by Lafford Homes, building for the future

Champion: Branston Community Group – for supporting the community of Branston and beyond in many distinct and caring ways.

Other finalists:

• Anwick Community Fundraisers – for supporting the community through the organisation of events, fundraising and building cohesion;
• Potterhanworth Beer Festival Committee – for supporting the community through the organisation of events, fundraising and building cohesion.

Community Spirit – sponsored by Lindum Group

Champion: Norman & Zena Anderson, Leasingham – for their extensive, active and wide-ranging contributions to village life in Leasingham.

Other finalists:

• Martyn Hurst, Waddington – for his extensive, active and wide-ranging contributions to village life in Waddington;
• Celia McAteer, Sleaford – for her extensive, active and wide-ranging contributions to community life in Sleaford.

To champion and thank others who improve life locally through their generous actions, volunteering and community spirit, nominations for 2026’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.