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A Hollywood star was left amazed by the inspiring stories showcased in our Community Impact Awards.

Actress, comedian and writer Sally Phillips, best known for her work on Bridget Jones’ Diary, Miranda, and comedy Smack the Pony, hosted the 19^th annual awards, entirely funded by generous local businesses.

The glitzy evening highlighted the vital work carried out by individual people, organisations and local businesses and shines a spotlight on the projects which are “Transforming Homes, Lives and Communities” across East Staffordshire, South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire.

Host Sally Phillips is best known for her role in Bridget Jones' Diary, alongside comedies Smack the Pony and Miranda.

More than 200 guests invited to the awards ceremony held at The Pirelli Stadium in Burton upon Trent were given the full ‘Oscars’ treatment befitting their status as outstanding members in their communities.

Click here for all the photos from the night

We received a high number of entries again this year. More than 70 individuals, organisations and local businesses were nominated across 10 categories. 

South Derbyshire charity Me&Dee, won a total of three awards, with its founder Maria Hanson walking away with the Special Recognition award. Despite her own serious illness, she has selflessly devoted 50,000 volunteer hours over 19 years to support families facing short and uncertain futures due to a life-limiting or terminal diagnosis.

Me&Dee junior ambassador nine-year-old Zack Bowles was awarded Community Champion (under 18) for his endless help in peer support sessions, and marshalling for present drops to local hospitals at Christmas and Easter. He is also an invaluable member of the team caring for Taylor, whose legs and fingers were amputated after developing meningococcal septicemia as a baby.

Zach Bowles, 9, was crowned Community Champion under 18 for his selfless volunteer work with Me&Dee

Trent & Dove CEO, Ursula Bennion, said:

“At Trent & Dove, we see what a strong community is about every day. We see it in neighbours looking out for one another, in people supporting the planet for generations to come and in those community projects which have made a real difference for so many people.

“That is why the Community Impact Awards are so important. They give us the chance to pause and recognise the people who often go unnoticed, but whose actions can be life-changing. These are the people who define what community really means.

“It was a fantastic evening, and we were honoured to hear hugely compelling and inspirational stories of people, organisations and local businesses who are doing wonderful things in our area.

“We were delighted to be joined by Sally Phillips, who said she was privileged to be in the company of such inspiring people and projects.

“This evening was entirely funded by our sponsors. Without their generosity, it would not be possible to reward the sterling work that individuals and community groups do.”

The BAC O'Connor Centre also received a special recognition award for its outstanding dedication to supporting the community and changing the lives of those around it.

Representatives from The BAC O'Connor Centre received a special recognition award

The Community Impact Awards were entirely funded by our generous sponsors: Headline sponsors Novus Property Solutions alongside Savills, PH Jones, Sustainable Building Solutions, The BAC O’Connor Centre, Burton Damp Proofing, GBS Procure, Maplevale Developments, EA-RS, Morro Partnerships, Stanbridge Interiors, Bloomin’ Gardens, Harrison Gardening and Property Services, GEM Solutions, A4S Solutions, Wavenet and Idverde.

Click here for all our winners' videos

About our winners

Neighbour of the Year, sponsored by EA-RS and Morro Partnerships

Jackie Geraghty

Her nominator said She’s been so supportive to us all. I’ll never be able to thank her enough for everything she’s done for us since we moved next door. Being a single parent is hard, but having a supportive neighbour like her has made all the difference to our lives. She’s an incredible human being. She does a lot for various foster children in her care and always provides and spoils them with anything they need. She has a lot of family, and she doesn’t hesitate to help them. She’s just an all-round totally awesome and amazing human being and deserves some recognition for just how awesome and amazing she is.

Gardener of the year, sponsored by Harrison Property & Garden Services, and Bloomin' Gardens and Landscapes Ltd

Sue Bullock

Sue has transformed Newton Road Park, in Winshill, into a wildlife haven enjoyed by the whole community. She has made bug houses and a wildlife wood, planted flowerbeds, opened the woods by weeding and removing brambles. She made a children's wood with wigwams, bird boxes made by the children from the youth club, bat boxes and Sue has improvised with bird nests made out of old boots too.

She has created a Community Orchard with 25 fruit trees, fruit bushes and rhubarb and strawberries for the community to pick or sends them to the Resource Centre for the lunch club or to give away to the community.

Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Burton Damp Proofing

Lynne Buckley

Lynne’s volunteering at Me&Dee included transporting Maria Hanson to and from networking events. Lynne is a full-time carer for her daughter, Hayley, yet still makes time for others and her local community.

Lynne runs the charity’s ‘Hope Factory’, a small unit which the charity uses for storage of items used to support those with life-limiting and terminal conditions, including the ‘Hope the Elephant’ memory gift, crisis items, and memory gift boxes that are provided to the Derby and Burton Hospital Trust Mortuary and Child Bereavement Support teams.

Best Community Project, sponsored by Novus

Burton Unity

Burton Unity is a community-led organisation that has become a trusted anchor for women, families, and under-represented communities across Burton. Led by local women with lived experience, Burton Unity delivers regular women-only outdoor activities, health and wellbeing workshops, creative sessions, family support and large-scale community events, resulting in thousands of meaningful engagements. Many participants are engaging in physical activity or community spaces for the first time, reporting improved mental health, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.

Community Champion over 18, sponsored by PH Jones

Debbie Clark

Starting back to the 90s Debbie was a huge character at The Heath Community Centre, in Uttoxeter, organising youth clubs, annual Carnival Queen nights and much more. Debbie began a weekly bingo night, giving up hours of her time while raising a family of five. She has opened her home for various events such as Santa’s Grotto for the vulnerable children, decorating her home at Halloween and making gifts for the children. Back in 2019, Debbie was diagnosed with lung cancer. Debbie continued to run the two bingo evenings, as well as organising a Drag Queen evening for the charity MIND.

Community Champion under 18, sponsored by Savills

Zach Bowles - winner

Me&Dee junior ambassador nine-year-old Zack Bowles was awarded Community Champion (under 18) for his endless help in peer support sessions, and marshalling for present drops to local hospitals at Christmas and Easter. He is also an invaluable member of the team caring for Taylor who had both legs and fingers amputated after developing meningococcal septicaemia as a baby.

Scarlett Richardson – Highly Commended

Twelve-year-old Scarlett started raising money by donating her hair to The Princess Trust in 2023. In 2024, she took part in the Pretty Muddy Run, raising money for Cancer Research. Last year, she raised money for Miles for Smiles completing 15,000 steps or more a day for 30 days, and swim at least 65 lengths twice a week. This was despite suffering two compression fractures and the anterior wedging of the T7 vertebral body.

Protecting the Planet, sponsored by Stanbridge Interiors

Andy Ramsey

Andrew leads Circularity.org’s monthly Repair Café which delivers a clear, measurable environmental impact by extending the life of everyday items and keeping them out of landfill. Each session diverts waste through the repair of electricals, textiles, furniture, bikes and small household goods, reducing demand for new materials and lowering carbon emissions associated with manufacturing and disposal. What makes Circularity’s approach innovative is the blend of skilled volunteers, practical problem-solving and open knowledge sharing: repairs are done with people, not for them, building confidence and resilience rather than dependency.

Best Street/Community of the Year, sponsored by Maplevale

Alexandra Road, Winshill.

Alexandrea Road has a diverse population who help one another out. They hold a street party every year. On the run up to the party, residents decorate their front gardens, alongside bunting and a scarecrow trail. At Halloween, many residents go all out to decorate their fronts and welcome trick or treaters.

The community has a WhatsApp group to share information, donate items and request/offer help. They have fund raised to buy a defib.

Charitable Organisation of the Year, sponsored by Sustainable Building Services Ltd

Miles for Smiles

Miles for Smiles has delivered measurable, life-changing support to individuals with life-limiting conditions and disabilities.

Key achievements since 2016 include £570,000 raised through challenges and community events; 520+ families and organisations supported, both directly and indirectly; 4,300 miles walked, cycled, and climbed by volunteers to raise funds, and their 10th anniversary challenge covered 1,000 miles across four European countries, raising £40,000.

Special Recognition, sponsored by BAC O'Connor

Maria Hanson

Maria has selflessly devoted 50,000 volunteer hours over 19 years to support families facing short and uncertain futures due to a life-limiting or terminal diagnosis.

This dedication to helping others has remained at the core of Maria’s character. Maria has experienced the brutality of severe illness, having gone through countless life-saving surgeries, invasive treatment and hospital stays resulting in life-long neurological and optic nerve damage, two irreversible stoma surgeries and spinal stenosis. Despite these challenges, Maria wanted to find a way to help those who fell through the cracks, as she often had when appealing for help. She wanted to create a safe place that families could come to for support when their worlds had been turned upside down by a devastating diagnosis.