Taking inspiration from our sister paper the Northants Telegraph, we are looking back at the individuals and groups who made a real difference in Northampton in 2023.
We have picked 10 of the many who go above and beyond to make the town a better place, yet often go unrecognised for their hard work.
Here at the Chronicle & Echo, we have been proud to tell their stories over the past year – raising awareness of the impact they have had on the community.
From people dedicating months to invaluable charity fundraisers, to those creating conversations around important topics like domestic violence, littering and supporting independent businesses, they have all made a difference to the lives of others.
We look forward to continuing to share stories like these in 2024 and if you have a tale to tell, email [email protected].
9. Andrzej Mialkowski and the Strictly Northampton team
More than £60,000 was raised by this year’s Strictly Northampton, in what was described as the best show yet with a sold out 1,200-person audience. £61,707.47 was raised for Cynthia Spencer Hospice, which took the total to more than £2 million raised for local charities since the launch in 2010. The show was founded by professional dancer Andrzej Mialkowski and he has continued organising and producing the competition annually ever since. Photo: Martin Farmer
10. Chantelle Jones
Chantelle, who took her sister’s life into her own hands and fought for her mental health diagnosis, was named carer of the year in October 2023. The 28-year-old shared her story of resilience throughout her sister’s six years of struggles. A wrong diagnosis led to the severe deterioration in her sister’s mental health, which began when she was just 19 years old. Chantelle used her experience to shed light on the immense support available to those in need. Photo: Chantelle Jones
11. The Beauty Withinn salon
The most admirable thing the Beauty Withinn salon, in Harlestone Road, did in 2023 was shut its doors on a number of occasions and welcome adult cancer patients for some much-needed TLC and free treatments. This varied from people having their brows and nails down, to a blow dry or having their hair shaved off if that is what they wanted. Salon owner Natalie Faulkner also took part in Strictly Northampton, in aid of Cynthia Spencer Hospice. Photo: Beauty Withinn