Awards honour volunteers who make a difference 

The Making a Difference awards held annually by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council recognise and celebrate the contribution that volunteers make in strengthening the community and improving the quality of the life for residents. 

Councillor Michael Mullaney, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety, said:

Reading the nominations for the Making a Difference Awards was a privilege, and everyone nominated deserves to be applauded for the work that they do to support our community.  In this special 50th anniversary year for the council I have to say what an inspirational group of people we have, from those who have volunteered for over 50 years to those who are just starting out in their volunteering journey and everyone in between. 

These awards recognise contributions from some of the many individuals and groups who work tirelessly to assist others who may be more vulnerable or less fortunate. The nominees also provide activities and opportunities to make life more enjoyable and inclusive for all people.

The Deputy Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, Councillor Richard Flemming presented the following awards: 
  
Awards for Creating a sense of Community (Individuals) was made to:   

• Alan Dayman (for his litter picking around Burbage. Alan has a heart of gold and a desire to keep his beautiful village in pristine condition, an unsung hero)
• Andy Pierce (awarded for creating The Pierce Perspective, a charity, operating from Burbage, dedicated to enhancing mental wellbeing) 
• Daniel Hope (for founding Hinckley Pride and in recognition for his impactful work in supporting the LGBTQ+ community local) 
• Deborah & Mark Walker (for setting up Wykin Animal Foodbank) 
• Heather Luckman (for supporting residents by walking with them and undertaking other voluntary work for Marie Curie Cancer Care and playing tennis with youngsters in Hinckley) 
• John Ashford (Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator for Tom Eatough Court, Earl Shilton) 
• Joseph Thompson (from We Care UK in Hinckley) 
• Joshua Bates (Joshua was born prematurely at 23 weeks and is blind, autistic and has epilepsy. Two years ago, Joshua learned how to use a sewing machine and now makes hair scrunchies which he sells for £1 each to make money for charity, raising nearly £2,000) 
• Julia Trinder-Oxley (founder of Barlestone Harmony Community Choir) 
• Kelly Allen (along with her husband AJ, are huge supporters of the trans and LGBTQ+ community within the borough. Formerly part of Hinckley Pride and more recently forming a transgender support group) 
• Kirsty Smewing (is dedicated to supporting people to move from being homeless, assisting them to set up their new home) 
• Lynne Findley (is the ‘Personal Wellbeing Support’ Volunteer for the MS Society Hinckley and District Group supporting local people living with Multiple Sclerosis) 
• Rose Blayney (is a local fundraiser for Help for Heroes. Now over 80 years old now, she still sells jams, marmalades and other delicacies and has raised £5,000 to date) 
• Sonja Hewitt (created Hope for Homeless in Hinckley over 30 years ago, helped thousands of homeless people and families in Hinckley and the surrounding area) 
• Stephen Beamish (has made a significant impact in the Hinckley community through his involvement with the community bowls club and the cricket club. Supporting older adults seeking companionship to energetic toddlers learning the basics of the games) 

  
Awards for Creating a sense of community (groups) were: 

• Angela & Clive Berry (Markfield Patient Participation Group, founder-member of the Markfield Good Neighbours Scheme and Deacon and member of the management team at Markfield Congregational Church) 
• Burbage Patient Participation Group (a group of volunteers at Burbage Surgery who help improve liaison with patients) 
• Dawn and John Jeffery, Friends of Hollycroft Park (the husband-and-wife team organise a lot of entertainment at the park, and Dawn started the community café) 
• Desford Lawn Tennis Club (sessions for people with medical conditions and disabilities, and this year added extra sessions for young people with autism) 
• Elohim Church Barlestone (the members help people in their community during times of need, and provide a safe, friendly drop-in environment) 
• Green Towers Hinckley Club for Young People (the club welcomes around 1,000 young people each week, hosting events and activities for people of all ages) 
• Hinckley Mencap (self-funded and volunteer led, they hold clubs for adults with learning difficulties, including arts, crafts, sports and theatre outings)
• Markfield Music Café (a fortnightly social get together for locals, run by volunteers for over 10 years) 
• Stoke Golding Community Facebook Page (providing information and support to Stoke Golding residents) 
• The Stoker Magazine (providing useful information and support to Stoke Golding residents) 

 
Awards for Contributing to our local heritage, culture and tourism (group) were:  

• Desford Heritage (a group of residents who are proud of their village's rich history and want to share it with others)  

 
Awards for Protecting, Supporting and Improving our Environment (groups) were: 

• Nailstone gardening group (formed in 2022, they hold regular practical and social meet ups, and the aim of the group is to improve the green and planted areas within their beautiful village) 
• Stoke Golding Neighbourhood Plan Committee (The Neighbourhood Plan advisory committee have worked tirelessly over the last few years to make the Neighbourhood plan. It has taken many, many hours of hard work and dedication to produce the plan to help shape the village as the community wishes) 

 
Awards for Young Volunteers (individuals) were:   

• Joshua Bailey (volunteering started during the covid response and he now volunteers at Nailstone Country Park, Brooksby College and his local riding club. He has organised and collected food donations from his school for the Ukraine and is an ambassador and a huge fundraiser for the Air Ambulance Service) 
• Jack Bailey (his volunteering started during covid, and volunteers at Nailstone Country Park. With experience of bereavement at an early age he was asked by ‘Winston’s Wish’ a charity supporting children and young people affected by grief, to be a youth ambassador. He is also an ambassador for The Crew, a club linked to the Children’s Air Ambulance) 
• Jesscia Harris (volunteers at Green Towers youth club facility in Hinckley, every Thursday and Friday for three hours each night and gives up the whole of her summer and Easter to help prepare the food for Summer and Easter club) 
• Joshua Bates also won an award Creating a sense of Community (Individuals) 
• Oscar Stoddart (for his all-round volunteering attributes to his local community i.e. Community Café and supporting other youngsters) 

  
Awards for Young Volunteers (groups) were: 

• Green Towers Young Volunteers (Many of the volunteers have gone from being children to use the clubs to young adults to help run it, and their work is vital)  

  
Award for 50 Years of volunteering – a new category for 2024 which aligns to the Borough Council’s 50th anniversary (group and individual)   

• Multiple Sclerosis Hinckley & District Group (the group is 56 years old and offers friendship, support and information to young locals living with MS)  
• Barwell Church Lads and Girls Brigade (run by Vaughan Cooper and Barbara Davies for over 50 years. A place where children learn to mingle, play games, learn an instrument, and have fun) 
• Stewart Woodward, Hinckley Sea Cadet Corps (Stewart has been instrumental to the success of the unit for the past 58 years and has held a variety of roles at unit level and in the wider Leicestershire District and Eastern area)