The 2026 Community Awards
It is that time of year when we ask for nominations for the Annual
Community Awards. This year we would like your nominations in the following
categories:
Community Involvement Award: recognising individuals, or community voluntary groups, who have made a positive contribution to the village. This could range from organising community events, improving facilities for a neighbourhood, supporting a charity in their own time or helping an individual.
Youth Community Award: recognising a young person or group of young people aged 18 or under, who have made a positive contribution to the local community. Nominations would be for exceptional young people who have helped others or shown outstanding commitment in improving our community.
Art and Culture Community Award: recognises an individual’s work in a voluntary or professional level who has made a significant or outstanding contribution to the arts and culture in Welton-by-Lincoln. This could be drama, dance, music, arts and crafts, photography or the delivery of an event.
Environment Community Award: recognises an individual or group who has made a significant difference to the conservation or protection of an area within the village. It could be a recycling champion, or someone involved in an environmental project.
Independent Business Community Award: recognises an independent business in Welton-by-Lincoln whose presence has had a positive impact on the local community. It could be a business that has created local jobs or invested in Welton-by-Lincoln.
All nominees must reside or work within the Parish of Welton.
The closing date for nominations is the 20th April 2026, so if you know of anyone, who deserves recognition for the unpaid or voluntary work they do for the benefit of our community, please put their names forward. Just drop a line into the Parish Office at 7 Lincoln Road (next to the Paper Shop) or e-mail (clerk@welton-by-lincoln-pc.gov.uk). The awards will be presented at the Annual Parish Meeting in May.
Cllr Mrs Marlene Chapman
Chairman, Heritage & Events Committee
The 2025 Community Award Recipients
Hayley Grundy
Hayley initially volunteered to put together some publicity for the library. In actual fact she has totally transformed the way we publicise the events on posters, in the Welton News and social media. This has included the introduction of QR codes and a roundel logo thereby promoting a consistent image. She has been very happy to continue this each month and has produced some items at very short notice always maintaining a positive 'can do' attitude.
The publicity has received a number of favourable comments and has aided the increase in attendances at the library and community hub.
John Mulhall
John Mulhall was one of the prime instigators of Walking Football in the village and over 10 years later he is still giving up his time to organise and play. He is now 82 years old and each week collects the subs from the 3 sessions of football arranged. He has been treasurer from the start and is now also the secretary, without him the club would not be as strong as it is today and he has played a major role in promoting exercise for older men and women in the village.
The 2024 Community Award Recipients
Mike Cosford
The role of churchwarden is vital to the life of the parish church, without which the church could not function.
The duties of the churchwarden are significant, they are charged with ‘encouraging parishioners in the practice of their faith’ and ‘promoting unity and peace amongst them’. They are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep up of the church building and the churchyard; also for the safekeeping of the property of the church.
Mike has also, for a number of years now, acted as the vice-chair of the Parochial Church Council (PCC), the governing body of the parish church, convening and often chairing meetings, to ensure that the lifeblood of church activities is maintained. In the absence of a full-time stipendiary priest since July 2023, that role has become even more important, and Mike has stepped up to the mark to keep things on track. If that were not enough, in the absence of another willing volunteer, Mike has also acted as de facto PCC secretary, a further vitally important role and a legal requirement; one which he has only just relinquished.
Mike has, for many years, made an enormous contribution to the life of not only St Mary’s church, but also the wider village. A quiet achiever, he just gets on with whatever needs to be done, largely unsung until now.
Avril Golding
She has been a volunteer at the library for many years and since retiring has taken a lead role in devising and delivering craft events for children. In addition she designed the scarecrow for the library which was exhibited as part of the Welton St Mary’s School Friends event.
Avril has made a real difference since taking on the craft events and their popularity continues to grow and with it, the use of the library.
The 2023 Community Awards
A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Alison Hemsley for her fund raising work for the Friends of St Mary's Primary Academy as Chairman over the past 8 years.
The 2022 Community Awards
The Community Award was presented jointly to Graham
Nicholls and Don Chapman
Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Terry Peachman
Group Recognition Award was awarded to the Welton Larder, Welton Pantomime Group & Welton Village Hall Trust Committee