We hope you enjoyed the 2020 Leicestershire Community Champions Awards, we’re in the midst of planning our 2021 awards so watch this space!
If you missed out on the awards, you can still watch them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOIL1HNJwqM
2020 awards
The Furnley House Foundation was created to improve the lives of those within our community. Usually we hold a number of events to help us bring the community together and raise in excess of £40,000 each year for charities and not for profits.
Sadly, the Covid-19 situation has forced us to postpone our events and we’re gutted to have to do so. We didn’t want to sit back and wait for things to calm down so earlier in the year, we raised £3000 to help create and cover the costs of discharge packs for those leaving hospital when we were in Lockdown. We also didn’t want to let all those amazing people and organisations who have gone above and beyond go unrecognised.
The Trustees of the Furnley House Foundation have decided to hosted a Virtual Awards on Tuesday 24th November in partnership with Voluntary Action Leicestershire – VAL. The Awards evening highlighted those individuals and organisations that have gone above and beyond since March 2020 helping their local communities.
The winners are:
1. Charity of the year – Sponsored by Furnley House
An initiative that has been implemented that has made a difference during Covid-19 period from March 2020 to present day. Open to registered charities only.
A Leicestershire based charity that has been able to keep running, provide services and fundraise, even with staff potentially on furlough. A charity that has demonstrated their commitment to making a difference when faced with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Winner: MLSS – Midland Langar Seva Society
Highly Commended – Charity Link
Finalists:
Charity Link
Help the Homeless
MLSS – Midland Langar Seva Society
Steps Conductive Education Centre
Zinthiya Trust
2. Charity employee of the year – Sponsored by The Miller Partnership
A person that works for a specific charity that has gone above and beyond during the Covid-19 period from March 2020 to present day. Must be employed by a registered charity.
Aa charity with a superstar employee who has been able to adapt during the Covid-19 pandemic to still consistently deliver to your charity. Someone who has gone over and above their role and what’s expected from them.
Winner: Nicola Rhodes – Bodie Hodges Foundation
Finalists:
Francesca Pearson – Macmillan Cancer Support
Louise Wylie – Eyres Monsell Club for Young People
Nicola Rhodes – Bodie Hodges Foundation
3. Young fundraiser of the year – Sponsored by Mark J Rees
Anyone under the age of 18 that has raised a significant amount for charity or has used an innovative way to fundraise and inspire the community.
A young community fundraiser who has used the pandemic to create positive change and fundraise for a charity close to their heart. Using their initiative and creativity to be an inspirational member of their community.
Winner: Alex Hallam
Finalists:
Alex Hallam
Faye Callaghan
George Wright
Martha Whittaker
4. Fundraiser of the year – Sponsored by Octopus Energy
An individual over the age of 18 that has raised a significant amount for charity or has used an innovative way to fundraise and inspire the community.
A community fundraiser who has used the pandemic to create positive change and fundraise for a charity close to their heart. Using their initiative and creativity to raise money.
Winner: Glynis Wright
Finalists:
Glynis Wright
Janet Gilchrist
Richard Frape
5. Sustainability – Sponsored by Fischer Future Heat
A person or organisation that is making a valuable difference to making our community a more environmentally sustainable place to live, work and enjoy.
A person or organisation who has an effective purpose-driven approach to sustainability and is making a positive change to the environment. For this award we are looking at energy use reduction, sustainable supply chain and a reduction of carbon footprint.
Winner: Red Circle Angling Club and Nature Reserve
Finalists:
Your Local Air Ambulance
Red Circle Angling Club and Nature Reserve
Soar Valley Press
6. Community Spirit Champion – Business – Sponsored by Glynis Wright & Co
A Company that has made a difference to the local community and stepped up in the face of adversity.
A business that has stepped up to support a local cause in need during the Covid-19 pandemic. Either by raising funds, providing staff, time or expertise, loaned your facilities to a cause or gifted vehicle hire and demonstrated a commitment to making a difference to the local area.
Winner: Ben’s Kitchen
Finalists:
Ben’s Kitchen
Thaliwal & Veja Solicitors
Wigston Fields News and Deli
7. Community Spirit Champion – Individual – Sponsored by Pattersons Commercial Law
A person that has gone above and beyond to make a positive difference in their community – any age.
Someone who has volunteered their time and supported a local cause in need during the Covid-19 pandemic. Someone who has demonstrated a commitment to making a difference to the local area. This could be by volunteering, providing assistance, delivering a service for those in need, or just generally going above and beyond to be a community spirit champion.
Winner: Gareth Padfield
Finalists:
Dr Abeer Kholghi
Gareth Padfield
Yvette De Sylva
8. Community event of the year – Sponsored by Paradigm Wills & Legal Services
An event that brought people within the community together or made a difference in the local community.
An event run after March 2020. This could be online, virtual or socially-distanced to bring your community together in a creative way. Not necessarily need to be a fundraising event but something that made a difference to people’s lives and raised spirits during a difficult time.
Winner: Suits & Vinyl
Finalists:
Inderjit Bajaj – Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning
Pie Cycle
Suits & Vinyl
9. Community Organisations – Sponsored by Soar Valley Press
A local club (not a registered charity,) not for profit organisation that has made a difference to the local community and stepped up in the face of adversity.
A local community organisation that has offered their support to their local community when their day to day activities could not take place.
Winner: Woodgate Community Food
Finalists:
Syston Charity Crafting Group
We Care UK
Woodgate Community Food
10. Best Social Media Presence – Sponsored by The Beauty Barn and Winfields Bookkeeping
A charity that is able to demonstrate effective use of social media during Covid-19 period from March 2020 to present day. Open to registered charities only.
A Leicestershire based charity that has effectively used social media platforms to engage their audience, raise awareness or funds from March 2020. Promoted campaigns to increase the charities profile during the pandemic when those face to face events where unable to take place?
Winner: Help the Homeless
Finalists:
Help the Homeless
Leicestershire Cares
Soft Touch Arts
