NK Community Champion Awards 2026 – call for nominations

It is time to nominate and celebrate people who make a positive difference to lives and communities across North Kesteven through kind consideration and voluntary endeavour.

On the back of Volunteers’ Week, nominations are invited for this year’s NK Community Champion Awards, which are backed by community-minded businesses within the District and co-ordinated by NKDC. So, if you know an unsung hero who deserves to be recognised, please honour them through a nomination at www.NKawards.org.

Across 11 categories, this year North Kesteven District Council is looking to champion all manner of expressions of voluntary action undertaken tirelessly, quietly and selflessly for the benefit of people and communities within North Kesteven.

It could be by supporting neighbours, contributing to a sports club, picking litter, maintaining paths, supporting those in need, contributing freely in a myriad ways, changing lifestyles and business practice to reduce climate impacts or going over and above in any way that brings broad benefit or community enrichment.

The categories include:

·       Community Spirit;

·       Young Achiever;

·       Community Business;

·       Community Group;

·       Contributions to climate action, arts & culture, sport, a better environment and health & wellbeing;

·       Good Neighbour, and

·       Longstanding Contribution to a single group or organisation

Since 2011, the Community Champion Awards has celebrated a vast array of amazing activity being undertaken daily in North Kesteven. The council wants to continue to acknowledge, celebrate and champion these individuals and groups, and needs your help through nominations.

Nominations can be made online at www.NKawards.org where there is more detail and also a physical form to download. The deadline for nominations is September 14, ahead of a ceremony in mid-November.

There also remain opportunities for businesses wanting to share in the joy to sponsor some of the award categories, which you can do by emailing [email protected].

Councillor Richard Wright, Leader of North Kesteven District Council: “Every year we are thrilled and proud to be able to celebrate the huge amount of voluntary community endeavour, and many acts of thoughtful kindness, that characterise local life within North Kesteven. All volunteers are champions of their community through what they do and through your nominations we seek to applaud and award them

“Over the 15 years of these awards we’ve recognised the activities of more than 400 individuals, groups and organisations as finalists and celebrated the voluntary endeavours of well over 1,000 nominees, all of whom have impressed and impacted positively on the lives of others and indeed entire communities.

“We would like to encourage as many people as possible to nominate more deserving community-minded individuals and groups who enhance our District. Their contributions in making our communities happier, healthier and more supportive places to live is inestimable and it is always brilliant hearing their stories at our annual NK Community Champion Awards celebration.

“As essential as the nominators are in bringing such good works to our attention, it is only through the generosity and goodwill of our sponsors that we are able to turn this spotlight onto our volunteers and I extend a massive thank you to all the sponsors over the years who help make this fantastic event possible.”

Already for 2026, sponsors are: Lindum Group; MKM building supplies; Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant/ Schroders Greencoat; Better, the council’s leisure partner; Hub Sleaford, the council’s arts centre and awards event venue; Equans, which is delivering sustainability enhancements to council houses; and Ian Williams, one of the council’s housing repair partners. And there’s always room for more.