It was a night to remember as unsung heroes from across Stafford Borough were the big winners at an annual awards ceremony. 

The Stafford Borough Council ‘Community Awards’ took place at Rising Brook Community Church on Thursday evening (24 November). 

And the roll of honour included volunteers, organisations and businesses who were among 44 shortlisted nominations attending the event along with the Mayor of the Borough, Councillor Phillip Leason, and Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire Ian Dudson. 

All the winners and those highly commended across several categories were announced to an audience of more than 160 people. 

Councillor Jeremy Pert, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Health, said it had been another incredible year with so many inspiring stories of those who had stepped up to the mark and helped others in their community over the last year. 

Nominations were open to all people, groups and organisations operating within the borough with projects that have been running during the previous 12 months.  

There were six categories - Community Action, Community Learning, Sustainable Environments, Social Wellbeing, Sports and Leisure and Local Hero - as well as some special awards announced on the night. 

Among those honoured included Staffordshire Women’s Aid (pictured), Wedgwood Cricket Club and Rising Brook Community Church. 

Councillor Pert, said: “What a great evening it was being able to honour those unsung heroes from across the borough and to hear their inspirational stories.  

“We are still living in challenging times and it is wonderful to see so many individuals, volunteers, groups and businesses stand up and be counted in many different ways. 

“We know how strong the voluntary sector is in Stafford Borough but what has been delivered yet again has been amazing.”  

He added: “It is one of the highlights of the year to be able to recognise their achievements. In my eyes everyone supporting our communities in so many different ways should be thanked, particularly as the last few years have been tough on so many and I hope the evening demonstrated to those nominated and shortlisted how much we value all they do to make our community a better place to live, work and thrive.” 

The winners and those ‘Highly Commended’ are: 

Community Action 

• Winner - Signposts (Stafford) Limited - Signpost Services  
• Highly Commended - Hearts and Hands Stafford  
• Special recognition - Josh Kershaw - Doing my bit to support those in Ukraine 

Social Wellbeing 

• Winner - Stone Alzheimer’s Drop in Club  
• HC - GP First - SOLVE (Stafford Organisation of Local Volunteers Events)  

Sustainable Environments 

• Winner - Silkmore Primary Academy - Tiny Forest  
• HC - Rising Brook Groundforce  

Local Hero 

• Winner - Lorraine Conkey - Stafford Walking Street, Hearts and Hands and Tuesday Club 
• HC - Paul Milgate-Scarott - Volunteer Photographer  
• Special Recognition - Honor Sutton - Operation Comfort - The Comfort Project  

Sport and Leisure 

• Winner - Wedgwood Cricket Club Juniors 2022  
• Winner - Academy Club CIC - Sport and Mentoring in the Community  
• HC - Stafford Walking Netball Club 

Community Learning  

• Winner - Tony Cooper - English for All  
• HC - The Youth Net  

Judges Award 

• Winner - Staffordshire Women’s Aid - ForWard House Refuge  

Commonwealth Award 

• Winners - Anne Glover, Callum Lea, Chris Barlow, Jan Gittings, Margaret Ainsworth-Hickman, Sally Kendrick, Sue Kneill-Boxley.  
• Special Recognition for services to Stafford Borough 
• Winner - Martin Young - Supporting Stafford 

Press Release No 5974