Awards highlights volunteer work across Northamptonshire
The annual ceremony has taken place in Northampton
Northamptonshire Community Foundation hosted their Annual Awards event at the Royal Theatre.
The foundation team are also celebrating their largest grant-making year; during the 2023/24 financial year, they awarded more than £2.9 million in grants to charities, community organisations and volunteer-led groups supporting the county’s most vulnerable residents.
Rachel McGrath, Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Community Foundation, said:
“Our annual awards evening is a true highlight, a moment to celebrate and honour the dedication, resilience, and kindness of those who make an enduring difference. It’s also our chance to say a heartfelt thank you to the generous donors, sponsors, and partners whose support has made this a milestone year—our largest ever in grant awards."
Accolades included the High Sheriff’s Initiative Award, the David Laing CBE Young People Poetry Award, and prizes celebrating culture, education and much more.
We spoke with winners of the Happy and Healthy Communities Award who are Dementia Sings Out, ran by Garry and his partner Ruth.
It's a charity that hosts weekly singing sessions for Wellingborough residents living with dementia, and their carers. The 90-minute sessions are hosted by a choir master and end with the opportunity to socialise over tea and coffee.
Garry told us:
"We set it up enlisting the services of the director in our community choir Gareth Fuller, of Northants Sings Out.
"It has just gone from strength to strength. Not only surviving lockdown and having to hold sessions over Zoom, things have just taken off incredibly during the last twelve months."