Annual awards winners all love where they live

Tenants, residents and community groups were among the winners at Wakefield District Housing’s (WDH) annual Love Where You Live Awards, held at the Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield.

WDH’s Chief Executive Kevin Dodd said: “Our Love Where You Live Awards have been a bigger and better success than ever before, with a record-breaking number of votes cast for people and groups who make Wakefield a wonderful place for everyone.

“It is important that we celebrate the hard work and dedication that these people put into making their neighbourhoods friendlier, safer and even more enjoyable places to be, and we hope that the prize money they receive will go a long way to helping continue that work.”

People were invited to nominate unsung heroes who make a positive difference to their communities.

A shortlist of finalists was drawn up and more than 10,000 votes were cast for this year’s winners, across eight categories.

The champions were:

l Best Neighbourhood: Friends of Mellwood House

l Community Group: Havercroft Parents Forum

l Working with Older People: Ann Bond

l Working with Younger People: Rycroft Youth Club

l Community Champion: Rachel Speak

l Young Achiever: Kai Brooke

l Arts and Culture: Chloe Hawkins and SKCA Singing Group

l Best Garden: Mr and Mrs Davis

The winners, all pictured, received £200 in prize money and runners up in second and third place received £100 and £50 each, thanks to the event sponsors, Sodexo.

A raffle held during the awards evening raised nearly £400 and the money will be donated to Wakefield Hospice and Prince of Wales Hospice.