NEWS: The Winners of the Groundwork Community Awards 2019
Winners of the Groundwork Community Awards 2019 were revealed on Thursday 21 November at a ceremony designed to recognise and celebrate the work of local community heroes.
Thirty finalists from up and down the UK attended the ceremony, hosted by BBC presenter Georgina Burnett, to crown the eleven winners who work tirelessly to be the change they want to see in their local community.
Ten awards were on offer and in addition, all groups were up for the ‘People’s Choice’ award where the winner was chosen via an online vote.
Groundwork, a national charity who works across the UK to support communities to change places and change lives, launched its awards in 2017 to honour small community groups making a big difference to everyone’s quality of life and to celebrate and reward groups who often get little recognition and support.
The awards received over 750 nominations, reflecting the huge diversity of projects and services that delivered by community volunteers.
GRAHAM DUXBURY, GROUNDWORK’S NATIONAL CEO, SAID:
“I’d like to congratulate all our finalists on winning their award and thank them for being such an inspiring voice and example for local people. It’s important that we celebrate the doers and change-makers who are working tirelessly in their local communities to improve the lives of people and sustain the services that are so important to our quality of life. We’re delighted that the Groundwork Community Awards have provided a platform to showcase the amazing work that groups across the UK are doing to make their local areas better places to live.”
GROUNDWORK COMMUNITY AWARDS 2019 WINNERS
People’s Choice Vote
WINNER: Taylor Made Dreams – Crowborough, East Sussex
Best Community Group
WINNER: Springboard Opportunity Group – Clevedon, North Somerset
Finalist: Liverpool Six Community Association – Everton, Liverpool
Finalist: Stevenage Against Domestic Abuse – Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Community Leader of the Year
WINNER: Danny Barnes – London
Finalist: Anna Kennedy OBE – Uxbridge, London
Finalist: Garry Wakeham – Honiton, Devon
Young Community Leader of the Year
WINNER: Bethan Owen – Bodelwyddan, Wales
Finalist: Harry Deacon – Falmouth, Cornwall
Finalist: Mima Letts – March, Cambridgeshire
Best Community Group Contribution to Health and Wellbeing
WINNER: Reach Out; Start to End Suicide – Salford, Greater Manchester
Finalist: Blood Bikes Scotland – Edinburgh
Finalist: Taylor Made Dreams – Crowborough, East Sussex
Best Community Garden or Greenspace
WINNER: Auchinleck Community Development Initiative – Auchinleck, East Ayrshire
Finalist: Allotment Angels Of Includeme2 Club: Reidvale Community Allotments – Glasgow Barrhead, Glasgow
Finalist: Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens – Pontefract, West Yorkshire
Best Community Group Contribution to Environmental Sustainability
WINNER: I’m Back Caring – Clean the River – Dalkeith, Midlothian
Finalist: St Wilfrid’s CE Primary School – Northenden, Manchester
Finalist: Surrey Wildlife Trust – Pirbright, Surrey
Best Community Group Contribution to Community Cohesion
WINNER: Vee’s Place – Prescot, Merseyside
Finalist: Connors Toy Library – Portsea, Portsmouth
Finalist: Heston West Big Local – Hounslow, London
Best Community Group Contribution to Education or Employment
WINNER: The Family Trust – Maidstone, Kent
Finalist: Endeavour Woodcrafts CIC – Ferryhill, County Durham
Finalist: Oakwell Rise Primary – Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Best Community Group Contribution to Sport and Physical Activity
WINNER: Gympanzees – Henleaze, Bristol
Finalist: Bexley Mencap – Bexleyheath, London
Finalist: Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League – Widnes, Cheshire
Best Community Partnership with Business
WINNER: Home-Start Glasgow North – Glasgow
Finalist: Market Rasen Station Community Project CIC – North Hykeham, Lincolnshire
Finalist: The Grange Centre – Leatherhead, Surrey
The Groundwork Community Awards 2019 were sponsored by Avison Young, Fields in Trust, Firmdale Hotels, M&S and Tesco.