2023 Community Heroes
Our Community Hero Awards recognise Platform customers who make a real difference, whether as an individual or as part of a community group.
In this section you can read more about our fantastic 2023 Community Heroes Award winners, who received recognition for what they do!
Meet our 2023 Award Winners!
Congratulations to all of our 2023 winners, who make their communities a better place to live, thanks to their selfless support and time given so freely to benefit others.
Also, a huge thank you to our main event sponsors Travis Perkins, along with James Hughes and Capsticks and our individual awards sponsors, whose generosity made the 2023 awards possible.
Our Board member Lou Zonato was on the judging panel and said: “Judging Platform's 2023 Community Heroes Awards was both very enjoyable and challenging, due to the quality of the entries and the inspirational lengths our customers go to making their communities special. Special thanks to each and every one of those who entered this year and many congratulations to the winners!”
You can find out more about each of our Community Heroes Award winners and watch them receiving their award by using the links below.
You can also watch the 2023 Awards Ceremony here.
This award is about bringing people together and making everyone feel included.
Our Communities Together Award winners - The Friends of Hurst Farm Community Group based in Matlock, Derbyshire believe that Hurst Farm is a wonderful place to live, with wonderful characters.
Local residents can visit the Farmers View pub, get involved in their older people Golden Club, attend warm hubs sessions or shop at the Farmers larder, which was originally set up to tackle food waste and has provided such a crucial service during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Find out more about The Friends of Hurst Farm Community Group and watch them receive their award here.
This award is given to someone who has developed their own skills, helped others, or used digital to make a difference.
Our Digital Inclusion Award winner is the Alford Hub based in Lincolnshire. Launched only three years ago, the Hub is a vital support network for their local community.
During this time, the Hub has attracted 142 support volunteers, dealt with 58,000 help requests, given out 28,000 items of free school meals and baby equipment, delivered 3000 prescriptions and helped many Ukrainian families access help and support.
Find out more about Alford Hub and watch them receive their award her.
This award is presented to a registered involved customer, who is helping Platform to improve services and make sure that our customers voice is heard.
Our Customer Involvement Award winner Mavis Williams has been an involved customers for a staggering 23 years and in that time, she has made sure that customers have their say and been instrumental in bringing about important service improvements.
Find out more about Mavis and watch her receive her award her.
This is awarded to someone who is doing their bit to help wildlife, tackle climate change or making improvements to the living environment around them.
Passionate about looking after the area around her home, ensuring that it is regularly litter picked and is clean, tidy and welcoming, Pauline Goldingay is our Environmental Award winner.
At 88 years of age, she is showing no signed of slowing down and is a real community hero!
Find out more about Pauline and watch her receive her award here.
This award is all about someone who goes above and beyond to help others.
Our Going the Extra Mile Award winner, Jodi Bradley joined Winnies in Skegness over 10 years ago as a volunteer and has taken on a whole host of roles before becoming their Community Co-ordinator. She works endlessly to make Winnies a home from home, where people can feel safe and confident to ask for help and guidance.
Jodi has been instrumental in starting local groups at Winnies, including warm hub sessions, coffee mornings, Job, Computer, Music, Knitting and Art & Craft Clubs, along with a regular Lunch Club which Jodi prepares and cooks all the food for.
Find out more about Jodi and watch her receive her award here.
This award is presented to a young person, under 18 years of age, who is already making a difference to others, whether through volunteering, caring or helping others in any other way.
Due to the high calibre of nominations, this important award has two winners – Jack and Lola.
Jack lives in Worcester, he is 8 years old and lives with Autism. He is always ready to help anyone and is a fantastic representative for his community.
Jack and his mum, Mel have written and published a book with Jack as the main character, sharing how his Autism gives him super-powers!
Find out more about Jack and watch him receive his award here.
Platform’s Communities Connected programme of events offers our customers, colleagues, and community partners opportunities to work together on neighbourhood projects to make a difference, celebrate our communities and build: Caring, Confident, Green, Digital, Healthy and Safe Communities.
This year’s Communities Connected Award was presented to Platform colleagues and partners who delivered a fantastic Football Fun Day at Fairmead Community Centre in Melton.
The hugely successful event attracted local children and families who spent time playing football, enjoying carving pumpkins, crafts and much more.
Find out more about the Fairmead Football Fun Day and watch Platform and their partners receive the award here.