The evening marked a significant milestone: 50 years of community foundations supporting neighbourhoods throughout the UK. Closer to home, the foundation celebrated more than £1.1 million in grants awarded to charities, community organisations and volunteer-led groups across Northamptonshire during the 2024/25 financial year.
Dozens of small, grassroots charities and dedicated volunteers from across the county were honoured with awards presented across eight categories: Building Better Communities, Celebrating Culture and Heritage, Excellence in Education, Happy and Healthy Communities, Tackling Inequalities, the High Sheriff's Initiative Award, Lady Juliet Townsend Award for Volunteering, and the David Laing CBE Young People Poetry Award.
For the third year running, Scott Bader Commonwealth served as Headline Sponsor, with additional support from Unity Trust Bank, Tangerine Red, Wilson Browne Solicitors, The Chester House Estate, the University of Northampton, Northampton Specsavers Hearcare and EMW Law.
Northamptonshire Community Foundation Chief Executive Rachel McGrath said: "Our Annual Awards event is always so full of joy; it is a real honour to be able to celebrate and recognise the achievements of organisations that do so much for our county.
"Thank you to our generous event sponsors, donors and partners – your support made this event possible. And to our award finalists and winners, we send huge congratulations. The work you do is life-changing for some of Northamptonshire's most vulnerable residents, and we are very proud to work alongside you and to recognise the impact you make."
Northamptonshire Community Foundation is sending huge congratulations to each and every one of their award winners and finalists.
- Building Better Communities Award, sponsored by Wilson Browne Solicitor, Winner: Volunteer Action
- Celebrating Culture and Heritage Award, sponsored by The Chester House Estate, Winner: People's Theatre Collective
- Excellence in Education Award, sponsored by the University of Northampton, Winner: Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust
- Happy and Healthy Communities Award, sponsored by Northampton Specsavers Hearcare, Winner: Headway East Northants
- Tackling Inequalities Award, sponsored by EMW Law, Winner: Higham Ferrers Gateway Club
- The Northamptonshire High Sheriff's Initiative Award Winner: South Northants Youth Engagement
- The Lady Juliet Townsend Award for Volunteering Winner: Dylan Jake, who volunteers for Lumina Arts Alliance
- David Laing CBE Young People Poetry Award Winners: Summer McLaren, Jamie Hustwait and Nathan Crockett
6. Contributed
South Northants Youth Engagement won the Northamptonshire High Sheriff's Initiative Award. Photo: Submitted
7. Contributed
Summer McLaren, Jamie Hustwait and Nathan Crockett won the David Laing CBE Young People Poetry Award. Photo: Submitted