NK Community Champion Awards 2020 - read more about our finalists and winners

Rather than be derailed by the pandemic, this year’s tenth annual celebration of the tireless community-minded endeavours and volunteering which characterises life in North Kesteven was driven by the same level of commitment which motivate the significant levels of community response within the District.

Transferred to a wholly-virtual online presentation on October 7, the sincere appreciation which underpins the NK Community Champion Awards as a celebration of the vast quantity of meaningful contributions undertaken selflessly and tirelessly across the District by thousands of people, was extended to more people online than ever before in a physical setting.

The awards are supported each year by local sponsors including Media Partner, The Sleaford Standard.

Council Leader Coun Richard Wright, acknowledged that the 100 nominations made by grateful recipients of the community-minded actions highlighted ‘barely scratch the surface of the phenomenal response we see across the District in strengthening our flourishing communities’.

With so many nominations from people wanting to thank and honour the individual and collective responses to the coronavirus pandemic in particular, the established ten categories were broadened to 12, leading to a record number of awards being made.

Representatives of the community businesses which sponsor the awards selected the 31 finalists and 12 ultimate winners who were awarded as Community Champions.

Indicative of the selfless desire to make a difference by throwing themselves in to community-minded action, Community Spirit winner Jason Snape from Witham St Hughs said: “I literally did just what I thought needed doing.”

In addition to pioneering play-park improvements, fundraising activities and community responses, he was instrumental in not only Witham St Hughs’ coronavirus support group, but helped those of surrounding villages and supported schools and churches in finding alternative operating models in lockdown.

Lindsay Fulton, instigator of the Martin and Timberland Emergency Support group which judged to be the Community Champion among many similar responses, said the villages’ collective response had ‘brought out the best in our communities, with people really coming together in support of each other in really trying circumstances’.

Coun Wright said: “I commended every single response across all levels of community consideration, but especially all of those groups which have sprung up to look after the safety, wellbeing and protection of people. Without these groups we would have probably struggled to deal with the situation across our communities as well as we have.”

Sponsor of the Community Safety Award, Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones said the awards highlighted ‘the very best of our communities across North Kesteven, picking up on those people who really have made an outstanding contribution to the places where they live and those they live among.’

He awarded Andy Marchant as ‘Mr Branston himself’ for the way he led hundreds of volunteers not only in the present situation but, over many years, in setting out a rock-solid emergency plan protocol to protect his community. “He has really stepped up to the mark and made a difference for not only his community, but for many others.”

As well as protecting, promoting and providing for individuals and entire communities across the pandemic, the Community Champions were also recognised for their broader contributions to life across a number of areas, including sport, the environment, arts and culture, health and wellbeing and as a good neighbour.

The emphasis of community businesses where people are placed above profit were also championed, with Greens Stores in Bassingham winning the award. Owners Michael Saunders and Tracy Raybould said: “We love our village, we love our shop and we love what we do. To know that our customers feel so positively in that is overwhelming.”

Having initiated a range of creative actions which brought her village together against the isolation of lockdown, Tracey Richardson of Osbournby said her successful approach was thanks to everyone else who joined in with the virtual bake-offs, model making and discovery trails. “It’s been a joy to see the village come together and grow through an otherwise awful situation,” she said.

Other finalists were celebrated for making thousands of face shields, gallons of hand sanitiser and hundreds of home-crafted scrubs for health settings, running swimming and scouting groups for decades, investing countless hours in sports coaching, identifying Norton Disney as the Iron Age equivalent of Scunthorpe and their general support of neighbours and strangers.

Compere Rod Whiting, from BBC Radio Lincolnshire, said: “If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that the worst of times truly do bring out the best in humanity.

“Just as we have learned that we can only defeat the coronavirus by acting together, so too we have seen through these awards that through phenomenal personal sacrifice, compassion and selflessness, we can do more than that; we can build up communities, making them strong, resilient and responsive.”

The complete list of finalists:

The Community Champion in each category is shown in bold.

More detail can be found on each at www.nkawards.org

Good Neighbour

Alan Germon, North Hykeham

Regarded as ‘worth more than a bar of gold’ Alan’s neighbourly response to everyone in his area stretches from planting wildflowers for everyone to enjoy to changing light bulbs, hammering in nails, offering envelopes, electrical advice and resolving any dilemma.

He modestly insists that the neighbourly support is mutual as others are equally helpful to him. He says he does no more than anyone else would.

This has stretched to daily trips to ensure an otherwise stranded devout nun could make it to Mass every day for a month in the worst of weathers to ferrying neighbours to trains and waiting hours for their arrival and using his ‘magic machine’ to connect other disconnected neighbours to the wonders and bargains of online shopping - latterly helping them to secure essential supplies in lockdown.

Janice Batchelor, Ruskington

Brushing aside her own personal problems during the lockdown to ensure she could support a friend through a ‘dark period’, Janice decided it was time to reciprocate all the kindness she has received.

Through daily check-ins, weekly shopping, multiple prescription collection, dog walking, letter posting and a general cheerful disposition from day one, Janice was only too pleased to help of her friends through some very difficult times; saying it was a natural response which has built a lifetime’s friendship.

On top of her own life, work and support of her own family and mother, Janice escalated what initially began as a dog-walking acquaintance into a level of thoughtful care for a vulnerable couple who say they could not have got by without her: an absolute rock whose kind and cheerful disposition kept spirits up.

Lizzy Truman, Great Hale

Lizzy’s neighbourly concern and helpful disposition stretched across a small close of bungalows and stretched from welcoming neighbours immediately on arrival to continually lifting everyone’s spirits by always being happy.

Her instinct on the first night of lockdown was to drop a note round to everyone’s house which led to her shopping, cutting lawns, walking dogs and generally caring for all the elderly who live nearby.

She’s described as ‘a real angel’, always putting her neighbours first as she gives them lifts, fetches carries and barely ever goes shopping without checking if they need anything collecting first.

Her thought is that it doesn’t take a lot to lend a hand, or to knock-on a door and ask how a neighbour is, but that it makes all the difference.

Young Achiever

George Woodward, North Hykeham

A year on from joining the community response team LIVES as a fundraiser, George marked his 18th birthday in February with his first responder’s shift and while furloughed from his job as a lifeguard invested his time logging 12 hour daily shifts.

These shifts have grown in intensity and criticality and over a few months George has assisted more than 100 people in their time of need, saving and changing lives and applying care and consideration in all that he does.

While other teenagers might have been on their Xbox at 2am, George has been responding to medical emergencies and paying his own petrol costs to do so; gathering skills and experience to help him in his aspirations to pursue a medical career.

His need to help people has become a life-saving passion.

Nancy Baker, North Hykeham

Ten-year-old Nancy has been making a visible difference and drawing community acclaim and appreciation through her weekly litter pick walks around local streets.

Posting on her Twitter and Instagram accounts (with some help from mum) as No Litter Nancy she’s raising awareness of the problem and inspiring greater respect and responsibility across the town.

Without seeking it, she receives positive recognition, encouraging beeps and waves as people pass in their cars and is spearheading a mini fight-back against the litter-louts. Supporters have supplied her with personalised hi-viz and collection equipment and she even has her own wheelie bin for her accumulations.

This two year mission, inspired by a school project, has become a real passion through which she feels she’s making a significant difference to both her neighbourhood and local wildlife.

Tomas Dickson, North Hykeham

Tomas’s many environmental outreaches are not only good for local wildlife, the wider environment and the projects he works on, but also for his personal and educational development.

With so many initiatives underway it’s hard to keep track. He is accomplished in conservation volunteering, undertakes courses to identify river flies, survey rivers and monitor invasive species, uploads data to international databases, leads conservation training and wades knee deep in projects where, aged 14, he’s the only young volunteer.

As well as receiving prestigious awards and the recognition of the agencies he engages with, all of this has encouraged him to tackle his GCSEs early, organise other home-educated youngsters into projects, design a collaborative online game and reach out to elderly neighbours with secretive egg deliveries from the ‘chicken fairy’.

Contribution to Arts and Culture

Lee Rooke, Sleaford

Relatively newly-appointed organist and director of music at St Denys’ Church, Lee’s contribution extends beyond the weekly services to the arrangement of a number of special and spectacular events intended for this year.

Having assembled a virtual choir in response to lockdown, through the expenditure of considerable skill and time, he has kept the music alive, investing great skill and time compiling a four-part accompaniment to the vicar’s weekly YouTube services.

Adding greatly to the online worship and sustaining a connection to church for a distanced-congregation, Lee’s endeavours have succeeded in building an appreciation for music which have been credited with easing loneliness in the lockdown.

With the choir now meeting under restrictions, his diligence continues in ensuring everyone’s safety whilst maintaining a musical tradition.

Mrs Smith’s Cottage Volunteers, Navenby

Absolutely critical to the realisation of the restoration and re-opening of the historic cottage as a museum, the growing band of 12-or-so dedicated volunteers are making the world if difference in opening a window on to the past.

Spanning a vast age range, from university students through to the long-retired, they are the lifeblood behind the visitor experience, having invested around 500 hours from January to August in readiness to open and continuing through front of house, events, learning, archiving, gardening and other essential functions.

The paid-staff at the cottage say the volunteers kept the restoration and re-opening plan on the road during lockdown when tradespeople were unable to carry out intended work – painting, gardening, wallpapering, cleaning, growing plants, seeding lawns, fencing etc. Without them the cottage would not have re-opened this year; and nor could it operate at all. They are everything to the way the cottage is presented to visitors.

Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group

Researching, unearthing and exhibiting aspects of the locality’s important Iron Age and Roman archaeology, the group has uncovered previously undiscovered information about the area, unlocking it for the local community and national record.

Along the way, over two and a half years, the group has provided great enlightenment and enjoyment for members, opening eyes, minds and understanding of something as important as Scunthorpe was to steel centuries later.

Open to anyone from the local community and passionate to share their findings and discoveries, they have exposed significant archaeology and cultural richness of critical historical importance.

Recently they secured Historic England’s highest protected designation of the Roman villa; community endeavour protecting community heritage and making it known.

Contribution to Sport

Angela Pettit, Bracebridge Heath

For over 45 years, from the age of 18, Angela has been involved in all aspects of swimming, life-saving, teaching, examining and organising, 40 of them with the Lincoln Asthma Swimming Group she helped to set up.

A life member of the Royal Life Saving Society and local branch chair, she organised the weekly Saturday asthma group sessions at ONE NK that have seen many hundreds of children with asthma, allergies and other conditions become confident swimmers and scores of them go on to teach themselves.

Countless local people have benefitted from Angela’s unstinting and voluntary involvement in all these activities and many more as she sought out any opportunity to inspire competence in the water.

A teacher by profession and a keen swimmer herself, Angela has combined both passions to enhance the confidence and wellbeing of generations of young people. Her lifelong commitment to teaching others to swim has sadly been impacted by a stroke earlier in the year.

Graham Park, Heckington

Graham is regarded as ‘second to none’ for the amazing time and effort invested in Sleaford Town Juniors Football Club over the years, for the sheer love of the sport and to offer fun physical exercise and friendship.

A past chairman, he organised and coached football, inspiring young players and new coaches for more than 12 years, setting up the Mini Greens for four to five year olds and a Coaches for Tomorrow programme to motivate teenagers to move through.

Graham, supported and advised all the coaches throughout the club, fundraised for training equipment and sourced grants so all coaches had coats for cold days. Now with another club, he continues to offer help and advice, leaving an ongoing legacy of encouragement and the memory of ‘an absolute legend and true gent’.

Samantha Elmsley, Sleaford

Gymnastics coach Sammi hasn’t let lockdown get in the way of her passion to support young gymnasts, lending equipment to use at home, giving free online Zoom coaching twice weekly and checking in on and sending cheery cards to all.

Passionate about passing on her own passion for the sport which she has been involved in from the age of 6, via county, regional and national success – in Britain’s top eight, aged 12 – her focus is wholly on encouraging participation, whether it’s at recreation or squad level.

She always gives her time freely, devoting entire weekends to get people to far-off competitions, extending her pastoral care beyond the discipline of gymnastics and inspiring charity fundraisers through teamwork.

Aside from her personal family commitments she regards her entire squad as family, expressing individual care, concern and compassion.

Contribution to Health and Wellbeing

Branston Primary Academies Food Voucher Scheme

Three years ago, five villagers came together to pioneer a response to hidden family poverty and childhood hunger, which in recent months has been a celebrity footballer’s cause celebre. They were ahead of their game in their care and concern.

In association with the local schools, they addressed a social issue affecting vulnerable children and their families to ensure they are well-fed in school holidays and better-placed to learn and engage when in class.

Through tireless fundraising, initiative and instinct in pioneering a specific local response, they have been able to support up to 60 children weekly across the summer, Easter, Christmas and half term holidays, enabling families to access healthy food locally.

As well as boosting a child’s health and life-chances, a further knock-on of the £10 per child per week benefits the wider family as meagre incomes can spread a little further.

Karen Melville, Helpringham

Aligned with a national drive to provide essential supplies into the NHS for Covid-care, Karen co-ordinated a local response to the For the Love of Scrubs initiative that covered the three hospitals, community nurses and GPs.

Within Lincolnshire some 2,000 volunteers gave up time, skill and sewing machines to rustle up many thousand sets of medical scrubs, kit bags and face coverings from donated or self-sourced fabric; marshalling skills, expertise and materials as a considerable contribution to the national effort.

Not only have these met a chronic need but they have also lightened the mood for patients as healthcare professionals carry out their duties with more vibrancy and colour. Further volunteering has underpinned a failsafe supply chain, administration and support and a strong network and sense of community has been fostered among the home-workers.

Rainbow Stars, Sleaford

From small origins as a support group primarily for parents and carers of children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD within Sleaford, Rainbow Stars now profoundly enhances the lives of its 1,500 client families.

Five years on, it has recently expanded its offer with an open-to-all hub offering a safe and supportive space and makes connections county-wide.

Seen as a ‘wellbeing lifeline’ by parents, the free, committed and caring support network is also a social lifeline which offered food parcels and even Father’s Day presents during lockdown on top of the regular trips, courses, meetings and playdates.

Run by volunteers exclusively through fundraising and donations, with expanding professional connections, Rainbow Star’s vital support includes teaching lifeskills, help with PIP paperwork, sourcing information and healthcare referrals and generally plugs gaps in the support network.

Contribution to a Better Environment

Carol Hubbard, Ruskington

Out in all weathers armed with litter picker and black bags, Carol is reckoned to have personally removed a skip’s worth of rubbish locally over the past year.

She simply can’t see a piece of litter without wanting to go back and get her litter-picking kit to sort it out and she also engages in community litter picks to remove hazards.

Her environmental conscience stretches to adopting a vegan and as low-impact as possible lifestyle, being super-aware of food miles and sustainability. Emboldened by her determination to protect the planet, she has gone as far as lobbying supermarkets about plastic packaging, removing and leaving it at the checkout and withstanding the remonstrations of irate store managers.

Wherever she can, she’ll offer lifts to ensure the most environmentally efficient outcomes. She has also championed climate emergency responses and has boundless energy for environmental action.

Nancy Baker, North Hykeham

Inspired by a guest speaker at school, Nancy could see that she could make a difference and, aged eight at the time, persuaded her mum to join her on litter picking walks.

For a couple of years, ten-year-old Nancy has patrolled parts of North Hykeham with her litter picker to hand, posting on Twitter as No Litter Nancy to raise awareness of the problem and inspire greater respect and responsibility.

She’s passionate about the environment and made little videos about litter and climate change, quietly beavering away and receiving the community’s appreciation.

Her greatest concern is the risks and hazards litter poses to wildlife and nature and wants to do her best to make our community a safe and pleasant place to live.

Tomas Dickson, North Hykeham

It’s easier to say what Tomas doesn’t do in his tireless application of time, talent and thoughtfulness on all things environmental.

Litter picking throughout North and South Hykeham and active with the River Witham Rivercare groups, Freshwater Watch, Hykeham in Bloom, Sleaford Navigation Trust and Lincs Wildlife and Rivers trusts, Tomas surveys the extent of Himalayan Balsam, plants trees, seeds wildflowers, builds bug hotels, monitors river-flies and tests water quality within his many wide-ranging environmentally-minded actions.

He has arranged a conservation day to improve the Old Orchard in North Hykeham, earned the trust and confidence of the town council and the town’s in-bloom group, delivers the Wildlife Trust’s magazines, secured the prestigious John Muir environmental award and identified that active engagement in environmental action is the best way to learn.

Community Business

Greens Stores, Bassingham

Having established themselves and their passion for the historic shop as ‘a real community asset’, owners Tracy and Michael initiated a fresh expression of customer care and consideration that drew multiple nominations.

At the heart of the village’s Covid response, they went above and beyond their normal village-focused activities to ensure everyone was well provided for, setting up free home deliveries and a new payment system, extending opening hours, running the Post Office seven days a week, ensuring fresh essentials were available and generally offering encouragement, calls, chat, a listening ear and a friendly face.

With the support of 140 active community volunteers, through tireless scouring for stock – to the point of selling on commercial toilet rolls when no other was available – countless hours of sourcing produce, stacking shelves, processing 1,000-plus orders, prioritising the vulnerable, delivering endlessly and juggling the shop and support group they led, Michael and Tracy ensured customers came first.

A dedicated work bubble was created to keep everything running, forfeiting contact with loved ones to ensure they could carry on serving the community.

Manor Farm Shops, Leasingham

Through the phenomenal response of customers stepping forward to volunteer, Manor Farm Shops was able to meet a phenomenal surge in demand of some 500 orders overnight.

Forced, initially, to close because they were so overwhelmed by customers and concerned about social distancing, the well-regarded shop that for almost 60 years has served its community well, soon set up an efficient orders system and an open-air market approach, thanks to staff and volunteer loyalty.

Under Gill and Debbie Burton’s lead, Manor Farm Shops provided food for the village and beyond and offered broader support and worked with the village pub on hot meal delivery in a natural extension to regular activity providing for village events, delivering food and looking out for customers year-round.

Manor Farm’s care of its community was repaid by the dozen or so volunteers who expressed their own community-minded response.

Salted Orange, North Hykeham

As soon as crisis hit, owner Sam looked at how he could use the catering and events business to help the community.

His on-site distillery made hand sanitiser given freely to schools, care homes and healthcare settings; he distilled a gin in support of AgeUK; and set up an at-cost hot meal delivery of three daily meals, seven days a week for £20 to anyone over 65.

In partnership with other businesses and organisations which masterminded the delivery logistics, Salted Orange catered for 110,000 people in the first 87 days covering 17,000 miles, bringing healthy and balanced low-cost meals to all corners of the county.

This brought assurance, confidence and peace of mind to those worried about elderly parents and those confined at home who were struggling to source supermarket food deliveries.

Longstanding Contribution to a Group or Organisation

Andrew Ingham, Heckington

Over almost 13 years from case worker to regional representative, Andy has made a fundamental difference to the outcomes and financial fortunes of veterans and serving personnel as a member of the Armed Forces charity SSAFA.

Continuing as a case worker throughout, whilst divisional treasurer and secretary, county chairman and now regional voice, he has raised £111,000 to meet the needs of some 120 clients through his direct involvement; most significantly in support of people with mobility needs.

Wanting to maintain his links and his usefulness after retirement from the RAF, Andy was thrilled to be selected as a volunteer caseworker for the Sleaford area, through which he’s provided support, guidance, a listening and empathetic ear and access to life-changing grants and finances.

Very much respected and admired, he maintains close-contact casework alongside his leadership of the charity within Lincolnshire.

Angela Pettit, Bracebridge Heath

Swimming organiser of the Lincoln Asthma Swimming Group which she was instrumental in founding in 1981, Angela has taught many hundreds of young people skills for life, inspiring many to go on to teach themselves.

A teacher by profession and a keen swimmer herself, she has combined her passions to life-saving effect weekly over 40 years, enhancing the confidence, wellbeing and survival chances of many.

Co-ordinating and organising the weekly hour-long term-time sessions at ONE NK for all ages and abilities from improvers to advanced swimmers, Angela has served on the group’s committee from the outset up until a stroke earlier this year.

Whether in the pool or the sea at annual coastal swim sessions, or instigating the world’s first ever asthmatic-only swimming gala and many other competitive, fun and fundraising events, everything Angela has done over the years has been focussed on enabling people to become confident swimmers and proficient in life saving skills – at the exclusion of normal family weekend activities.

Delphine Norton, Ruskington

Although she hates camping, Delphine’s determination to ensure her young charges don’t miss out on the joys of Scouting has seen her pitch up and pitch in repeatedly, taking on one role after another to keep packs afloat and involved in the support of Scouting for 30 years, as a Scout Leader in Holland, Germany, Wales and locally since 1997, she is totally committed to the cause, running both Ruskington’s cubs and beavers packs and training future junior leaders.

Overcoming her dislike of camping, she pitches her tent two or three times annually – even in the snow – to ensure others can enjoy the experience and in lockdown made up packs that led to 120-plus cubs earning badges from home.

From initially just helping out to stop a group closing, Scouting has become Delphine’s life, conscientiously putting in a great deal of time and effort, personal care and consideration, to ensure the children get to experience the best from their endeavours and contribute ever more to their community.

Contribution to Community Safety

With a total of ten nominations across four categories detailing a personal response which stretches across a wide range of community safety initiatives, the judging panel and category sponsor, The Police & Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire, were agreed that Andy Marchant was the undoubted champion of Community Safety for 2020.

His involvement covers everything from initiating Branston’s community emergency plan, to rallying significant levels of community volunteering and resilience in the event of an emergency response, to clearing up environmental hazards , supporting victims of scams and doorstep crime, supporting other communities with their emergency planning and latterly setting up a wide-ranging Covid-response group.

Always thinking ahead, he’s even striving to develop the group to be an ongoing source of community support and outreach for a safer community after the coronavirus has passed.

Andy Marchant, Branston

Having invested time, skill and know-how in pioneering the village’s established Emergency Plan group and various initiatives of broader crime-busting community safety, it was a natural step for Andy (stranded abroad when lockdown began ) to make it home and immediately instigate the village’s Covid response from quarantine.

Formed as a sub-group of the existing Branston Emergency Planning Group, the Branston Parish Council Covid-19 Support Group was established on March 23, closely followed by the setting up of the Branston All Saints Covid-19 Food Bank.

Volunteer numbers soared to over 300 – 80 of them actively seeking tasks, the food bank supported a broader spread of 12 communities and 160-plus people were offered regular ongoing help in response to 1,000-plus requests which continue to average six a day.

Holding it all together Andy has applied his previous Military experience and the learning of recent years in how to mobilise an emergency response; quickly picking up the reins, reviewing the situation and working out what was needed, which volunteers, how to shield the vulnerable, how to get the word out and how to set up an efficient reliable, trusted and disciplined response.

Andy has manned the incoming calls 24/7 and really brought the community together, proving care and compassion and as word and confidence spread, the food bank became a hub to help other communities.

By having a plan and volunteers in place, Andy’s foresight ensured that when the unthinkable happened, Branston was prepared and poised to respond.

From here he’s already shaping and seeking funds and logistics for a Branston Community Group and Branston Good Neighbour Scheme to act as a lasting legacy and build a network to provide ongoing support.

Community Spirit

Andy Mellett Brown, Heckington

Struck immediately by the sheer scale of Heckington’s community spirit and collaboration, Andy couldn’t help but get drawn in and identify ways to support and encourage community endeavour and activity.

Saddened by the prospect of the loss of the popular village magazine, he mobilised a committee which took it on and relaunched it, going on through voluntary efforts to become such a success it has been able to seed-fund and set up or sustain other projects including the recent food larder.

By harnessing the necessary skill and expertise Andy initially advanced Heckington Living Magazine and then worked tirelessly to set up a community radio station which has been an undoubted lifeline to villagers in difficult times; a new and vital piece in the Heckington jigsaw.

Broadcasting under the strapline ‘Keeping Heckington Connected’ the radio station encapsulates Andy’s pride in his community its distinct energy, enthusiasm and positivity.

Jason Snape, Witham St Hughs

In just a few short years Jason really has made his mark on his adopted home by simply throwing his all into it; taking pride in where he lives and all that he does.

Through spearheading play park renovations in a way that saved around £20,000 of public expenditure, organising and then re-thinking VE Day celebrations, setting up a Covid response group and supporting surrounding villages in this task too, identifying new ways of operating for schools and a church in lockdown and positively representing the parish council that he vice-chairs, he has shown due diligence in myriad good causes.

Consistently seeking to solve problems and positively influence his new home, he takes on any challenge with verve, selfless commitment and energy and it is felt that ‘without him Witham St Hugh’s would be worse off’ – as would the neighbouring villages whose support groups benefitted through his co-ordination of administrative skill, understanding and insight.

Ruth Sheeran, Skellingthorpe

At the heart of Ruth’s charitable consideration are cakes and homebakes which not only generate funds but also a guaranteed feel-good factor.

She’s helped friends, neighbours and colleagues through lockdown with surprise deliveries of cake and afternoon tea, put out 130 cakes for people to pick up on the NHS’s birthday and will generally use cake as a commodity for charity fundraising and community cohesion.

Her giving knows no bounds, organising a walk to raise £3,600 for pancreatic cancer, a pop-up tea room in aid of St Barnabas, collecting for a cause which enables dream weddings for people close to life’s end, supporting Lincoln’s homeless and cooking for an older persons lunch; all in spite of her own and close relatives’ health challenges.

Always helping others and generous to a fault, Ruth seeks merely to bring happiness to others.

Community Spirit – Individual Coronavirus response

Dale Hardy, North Hykeham

If you’ve got what it takes to deliver a positive response, why wouldn’t you? That’s what motivates Dale to harness his own wherewithal and that of others around him to make a difference.

On top of leading the Sir Robert Pattinson Academy through its own lockdown challenges, Dale pioneered a response that supplied 4,000 face shields to hospitals, police, care homes, GPs and pharmacies and offered up the school kitchen to make 100s of meals for the over 70s, delivered in the school minibus.

With school kitchens open, a minibus sat idle and stocks of materials to hand, he was committed to making sure he himself and anyone within his school who could, gave their all in support of others; ensuring no one was left behind and that the community was well-provided for – kept safe, protected and well fed.

Tracey Richardson, Osbournby

Through creativity, flour and flair, Tracy’s response to the coronavirus and the loneliness of lockdown was to inspire socially-distanced fun and remote community cohesion.

Described as a ‘beacon of light’ for the manner in which she harnessed Facebook and gave her time, talents and resources to create a happy and positive environment for all villagers – from the safety of their own homes – Tracey galvanised residents into activities by sharing much sought-after flour for a baking challenge, crafting aeroplane model kits and creating Where’s Wenda? and VE Day bunting-making challenges.

Inspired by the motto ‘ The Smallest Good Deed is Better than the Grandest Intentions’, through her enthusiasm she was relentless in her creative responses, imploring people to tell her to dial it in, if it was too much – but they never did, so she just kept on going!

She repeatedly re-visioned her garage doors with artistic displays and has generated hope through the promise of an eventual village get-together.

All of this created a fresh community dialogue and sense of togetherness not felt before, and gave everyone something to focus on and get excited about, which has clearly lifted and supported people through their isolation.

Zoe Ireland, Ruskington

Putting the community first, Zoe initiated and co-ordinated Ruskington’s response, rallied and allocated volunteers and has been available 24/7 in case of emergencies throughout the lockdown, in spite of her own obligations home working and home schooling.

With a passion for planning, a flair for Facebook, skills with spreadsheets and a determination to make a difference, Zoe was quick to respond when she saw the beginnings of an idea to initiate a community support group.

She just couldn’t help but get involved at the thick of it after someone responded to her advice and offers of help and before she knew it she’d enlisted some 200 willing volunteers in command of helping 6,000 residents; inspiring them and uniting them as a solid group focused on helping others.

Without her it is thought that the response may not have got off the ground, leading to very different outcomes for many.

And now, with plans for a big party when it’s all over she would dearly love to maintain the sense of togetherness and support created within the village.

Community Spirit – Coronavirus response group

Martin and Timberland Emergency Support

MATES by name and mates by nature, the Martin and Timberland Emergency Support group set up a week ahead of lockdown to offer friendly and effective support to both communities.

Under the leadership of Lindsay Fulton, who characteristically – and quickly – realised that vulnerable people would be in need of help for months to come, 40-plus volunteers united in support of the two villages with vital food and medicine deliveries, phone calls for the isolating, a phone box book exchange, newsletter and the collection of food and household items for onward donation.

Assistance stretched to neighbouring villages too where there was a need, as a group of community-minded people pulled together as a team to make a positive and beneficial difference to those around them.

Through the cooperation of a core group of five, a wider 15 or so really active participants and the wonders of Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, the broad community support succeeded in glorious isolation.

Holdingham Helpers

Working in tandem with other groups in and around Sleaford, ensuring no one went without, the Holdingham Helpers soon found themselves responding to requests throughout the town.

Formed by Robert Oates, who circulated 2,000 leaflets to get the ball rolling, the group quickly grew to 44 volunteers, collecting and delivering shopping and medicines, making calls and checking on the welfare of 100-plus isolating individuals in the first few weeks of the pandemic.

NHS and care workers were assisted too and speedy responses ensured a swift turn-around of prescriptions for those discharged from hospital.

Although slightly scaled down from a six-day to a five-day-a-week operation, the Holdingham Helpers continue to help and are already forging a future as an effective good neighbour scheme for long-term ongoing support for the Sleaford community.

Ruskington Covid-19 Volunteers

Up to 200 volunteers rallied to Zoe Ireland’s call to support those who were isolating at home, with routes to ensure the entire village of 6,000 people was covered with the supply of groceries and prescriptions, pet care, letter-posting and chat.

Zoe inspired the volunteers and united them behind a single community-aim of offering peace of mind; all putting themselves out, even when many had gone back to work, to support strangers who might otherwise have found themselves in difficult situations – or worse.

Just knowing that the group was there has given residents peace of mind in worrying times.

This was one massive village effort, with every road represented by someone offering help to ensure no-one was stuck alone at home without assistance. And now, the aim is to maintain the sense of togetherness and support created within the village.