An ex-soldier volunteering in a warzone, tireless fundraising, unstinting community effort, village volunteers and a young boy with a heart of gold have all been rewarded in South Kesteven District Council’s SK Community Awards.
A prizegiving awards night at Bourne Corn Exchange hosted shortlisted nominees from seven categories with winners announced on the night.
Award winners took home engraved crystal trophies or external plaques, and runners-up were presented with congratulatory certificates.
Claire Moses, SKDC Head of Service, Revenues, Benefits, Customer and Community, said: “We are proud to be able to celebrate such amazing people.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to hear their stories and to recognise what they contribute to their different communities with our awards. We are very fortunate to have people like these in South Kesteven.”
As with previous years, nominations were invited from the public, with more than 100 received and shortlisted by a panel of elected members and community representatives ready for Friday night’s awards celebration and presentations.
Neil Smith Beyond the Call of Duty Award
Stamford military veteran Jack Bon Holly took the Neil Smith Beyond the Call of Duty award.
Jack is a volunteer driver for Project Konstantin, working near the frontline in Ukraine to rescue wounded soldiers.
Project Konstantin supplies soldiers with vehicles, drones, anti-drone radar, uniforms, shoes, portable batteries, generators and sleeping bags.
It is funded by donors from all around the world, with supplies delivered personally by Konstantin volunteers facing every situation from food deliveries to rushing wounded soldiers to a medical centre.
Jack, who keeps his real name hidden, was in Ukraine and unable to attend the Awards Night so his trophy was collected by Yvette Diaz-Munoz, Stamford Diversity Group, and Liliya Natalchenk from Ukraine.
The Neil Smith Beyond the Call of Duty Award recognises the actions of late council employee Neil Smith who saved his infant son Tommy’s life with cardiac resuscitation.
Community in Bloom Award
Volunteers in Barrowby were rewarded for their floral efforts in the village with the council’s Community in Bloom Award.
The award followed wins in the council’s Best Kept Village in recent years, but with the retirement of the councillor responsible for gaining those awards, Barrowby faced a challenge.
The village nomination laid the praise for improvement efforts in 2023 squarely with former parish council chair Phil Cupit. He gathered a group of hard-working volunteers to donate plants and give up their time to help Barrowby bloom again.
The results, shown by the photos that applicants were asked to submit, proved spectacular with planters, flower beds and other floral areas - with the nomination described as ‘a small thank you to those responsible’.
Health and Wellbeing Award
Cycling enthusiast Stuart Wills from Bourne won the Health and Wellbeing award for his tireless work ‘recycling’ unwanted bikes for the benefit of the community.
Stuart has spent the last two years collecting around 150 rideable bikes otherwise destined for the tip or no longer required. He mends and services them, ensures that they are roadworthy and makes them available to anyone in need of a bike free of charge.
His efforts have helped Ukrainian refugees, foster families and many local families needing bikes they cannot afford, even helping adults commute to their work. Bikes that children are growing out of are now being brought back and swapped for a bigger one.
Stuart does all this on a voluntary basis, asking nothing for the bikes or the work he does. If people insist on making a financial contribution, Stuart only accepts donations to Don't Lose Hope in Bourne.
Lifetime Community Champion
More than 30 years of giving disabled children and adults the opportunity to ride and be with horses have won Karen Thompson the council’s Lifetime Community Champion Award.
Karen set up Kesteven Rideability, a Riding for the Disabled centre, at Hough on the Hill in 1988.
Over the years the centre, praised in her nomination as a ‘beacon of hope’, has expanded to offer competitive, recreational and therapeutic riding, carriage-driving and pony pat sessions.
Hundreds of disabled people have benefited from physical therapy, reduced stress, improved well-being, confidence and self-esteem through contact with horses and ponies. Benefits extend to carers or family members who will often see loved ones change as they connect with new people and places.
Despite the challenges of Covid, the centre is going from strength to strength under what’s described as Karen’s inspirational leadership and undiminished commitment.
Business in the Community Award
Grantham man Andy Harrison, described as ‘an absolute pillar in our community’, won the Business in the Community Award.
His business, Andy’s Man and Van, has supported local community groups, charities and individuals in need since it started after he won the van in a raffle – just before the pandemic took hold.
Andy and his wife Claire have donated furniture and white goods that would otherwise have gone to landfill to people in need, and recycled unwanted bikes by collaborating with the Bhive Community Hub bike project in Grantham.
Andy has also supported charities with sponsorship for goods and materials so that they can help vulnerable people in the community, and sponsored meals for the elderly and vulnerable.
As a licensed waste carrier, he makes sure that all waste is disposed of properly, educating people on waste legislation including recent new laws regarding sofas and beds.
Inspirational Young Person Award
Seven-year-old William Butler’s brilliant attitude to life made him a stand-out winner of the Inspirational Young Person Award.
Described in his nomination as ‘a little man who has the biggest heart’, William started helping people at the age of just five – raising £6000 for Meningitis Now after having the illness as a baby.
William, from Swayfield, constantly takes on challenges to support charities helping others, and recently raised enough money to fund 65 counselling sessions for the Don't Lose Hope charity in Bourne.
He climbed Mam Tor in the Peak District recently for the same charity and is planning to do one of the Yorkshire Peaks and possibly Snowden.
He also grew and sold vegetables and fruit to help fundraise for two marathons last summer for Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance.
Urban Space Award
Dimension Skatepark in Bourne captured the Urban Space Award to reward a 20-year labour of love for its creators.
The award is recognition for the dedicated group that took the skatepark concept from consultation with local young people through to its eventual delivery this summer – including the sometimes -arduous task of securing funding.
The Skatepark nomination described the facility as ‘a fantastic addition to the town and an amazing achievement on the part of the group that worked so tirelessly to make the dream a reality.’
The multi-wheeled concrete facility officially opened in August 2023 and sits alongside other community sporting amenities on Abbey Lawns. It is already being used regularly by local children on scooters, skateboards and bikes.
Skatepark benches mean that children can be watched over by parents and friends and litter bins ensure the space is kept clean and tidy.
