Scores of inspiring people from across the borough gathered at Grimsby Town Hall on Friday night for the Civic Awards 2023.

The awards celebrate community spirit in North East Lincolnshire and there was plenty to celebrate at the ceremony. Cllr Stephen Beasant, Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, said:

“The Civic Awards really topped off an excellent week for me. It was an honour to be surrounded by so many talented and brilliant people.

“To the winners, runners up and everyone who was nominated, you’re fabulous and I applaud you.

“This is why Grimsby is Great, because of the fantastic people and what they do in the borough, working together and making a real difference.

“You deserve the accolades, well done. And well done everyone who was nominated, everybody deserves credit.”

The awards are organised by North East Lincolnshire Council’s Civic Office in partnership with HMT St Hugh’s Hospital.

Ashley Brown, the director of awards partner HMT St Hugh’s Hospital, said:

“What an amazing evening. Yet another fantastic Civic Awards, which just gets better each year. Congratulations to everyone who was nominated and shortlisted and, of course, a huge round of applause to our 2023 winners.

“It was humbling and a privilege to play a part in celebrating all that’s great about North East Lincolnshire and the warm-hearted, generous, dedicated and talented people who strive to make it a brilliant place to live and work.”

All photos by Jon Corken.

Winners and runners up in the Civic Awards 2023

Environmental Impact Award

Winner: Frank Sparkes

For selfless work looking after the North Wall in Cleethorpes for over 20 years keeping the area clean and fly tipping free.

Runner up: James Elliott

For transforming the Freshney and working tirelessly to keep our environment clean and tidy. A huge asset to Grimsby and supportive of those with mental health issues.

Runner up: Great Coates in Bloom

For undertaking litter picks throughout the village and community all year round and encouraging wildlife with bug hotels. For planting and maintaining trees and flowers.

Sporting and Wellness Award

Winner: YMCA Humber Youth Club

For providing a hub for hundreds of youngsters with a welcoming atmosphere, kindness and activities inclusive for all

Runner up: Grimsby Freestyle Boxing Club

For developing sports competitors who compete at a national and international level, even a world champion, whilst delivering leadership, health and lifestyle skills

Runner up: Daniel Barrett

For forming a team of local talent on a budget and achieving two successful promotions whilst inspiring young players to achieve their potential

Inspirational Young Person Award

Winner: Jax Batty

For his relentless fundraising efforts for children and young people who have a stoma whilst he faces his own challenges and medical condition.

Runner up: Max Clarke

For volunteering and collecting donations for a wide variety of local charities including dog food and bedding for The Ark Animal Rescue to sleeping bags for the Grimsby Food Kitchen.

Runner up: Elysia Nicolaou

For raising thousands of pounds by fundraising and bringing the local community together after substantial damage was caused to her local park.

Business in the Community Award

Winner: The Children’s House Nursery, Stallingborough

For developing and continuing to invest in a neighbourhood nursery to the highest standards in early years education.

Runner up: Ayolt Kloosterboer

For supporting the local economy through using local supply chains, creating job opportunities, promoting equality and diversity.

Runner up: St Andrew’s Hospice, Grimsby

For the volunteer team who support the day to day running of the charity from admin to retail and helping across the entire Hospice clinical units.

Charity / Volunteer of the Year Award

Winner: Friendship at Home

For reducing loneliness and isolation through befriending in peoples homes, over the telephone along with well-being checks and specialist advice across North East Lincolnshire

Runner up: Amber Cardwell / Oasis Hub South Grimsby

For supporting and empowering families in the area with the food pantry, toddler group sessions and ongoing financial guidance

Runner up: Nurtrio

For bringing together a range of essential social care services to hundreds of vulnerable people living across the Borough

Good Neighbour Award

Winner: Sandra & Graham Ellis

For running the Neighbourhood Watch Group and 5am starts watering community hanging baskets, to arranging Easter, Halloween and Christmas events for youngsters and families in Cleethorpes.

Runner up: Jackie Cheffins

For looking out for her elderly customers in her delivery driver role by making sure prescriptions and even biscuits are picked up and appointments attended. Jackie made sure those alone had a Christmas dinner during the festivities.

Runner up: Louise Whyte

For helping out at the local youth centre and a variety of community-based activities, Louise is compassionate and is concerned about those around her, even opening up her home to others during a power cut.

Mayor’s Community Impact Award

Winner: Paint the Town Proud Project

For fantastic murals painted around the Grimsby area.  Many people made this happen and these projects are being talked about in such a positive way creating a lasting legacy in our area.

Runner up: Nurture Nature Forest School CIC

For inspiring everyone to connect with the outdoors, teaching skills from a very young age and improving the wellbeing to people of all ages.

Runner up: Helping Hands

For providing days out for over 2000 people and afternoon teas at many group dwellings and treats for seriously ill youngsters.

Thank you

Cllr Beasant thanked all those who had been involved in staging the awards and urged everyone to think of someone they can nominated for the next round of Civic Awards, adding:

“There are hundreds of wonderful people across this borough who do some amazing work. If we’re not careful, they’ll slip through the radar. We need to celebrate their achievements.”

This year the team received a total of 230 nominations.

Each category had its own presenter from the area. These were the Mayor, Ashley Brown from St Hugh’s, Lee Sutton from myenergi, Jason Stockwood from Grimsby Town FC, Mark Webb from eFactor, Sam Delaney from Creative Start.