Newark and Sherwood Community and Sports Awards 2024, organised by Newark and Sherwood District Council with Radio Newark, held at The Renaissance at Kelham Hall

Those who have gone the extra mile to help those in need in the community have been recognised for their efforts at a glamourous ceremony.

The Newark and Sherwood Community and Sports Awards 2024, organised by Newark and Sherwood District Council in partnership with Radio Newark, were held on Friday (September 20) at The Renaissance at Kelham Hall in Newark.

The event honoured incredible individuals who have gone above and beyond to support the community and champion the growth of sports, with 14 worthy winners awarded for their exceptional contributions in various categories.

This marks the second year that the awards were extended to cover the whole of the district, and this year were extended to recognise more sporting success through additional sport categories.

The event also featured a Special Recognition Award, presented to Tom Marsden, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Lincoln College, who received this accolade for his vital work in bringing the Air and Space Institute in Newark to life.

Some of the success stories from the night included Bob Overbury, who won the Irene Sendler Humanitarian Award for supporting Ukrainian refugees by linking them up with host families during the outbreak of war in the country.

Another winner was Miles Harriman, was awarded Citizen of the Year for his involvement in many community projects including the ‘Crop Drop’ scheme which organises crop donations from local growers and driving the produce to community groups that need it most.

Young Person of the Year was shared by Elliot Garland and Jude Gabbitas, both 11, and eight-year-old Seth Gabbitas who make up a fundraising entrepreneur team called Future15.

The trio were awarded for Young Person of the Year as they dedicated their time and energy to help raise money for local children struggling to deal with the loss of a loved one.

Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Our district is full of amazing individuals who do great things in our communities. Whether it be helping neighbours in an emergency, working as backroom staff for a sports club, or inspiring others to contribute to the area, there’s so much to celebrate.

“Often these individuals do not get the recognition they deserve, so this award ceremony was the perfect opportunity to say thank you to those that deserve it the most. I’m thrilled to have celebrated the amazing accomplishments of our residents across the district.”

Alex Hopkins, from the Renaissance at Kelham Hall, said: “We were thrilled to host the Community and Sports Awards once again and were excited to hear about all the amazing stories from our community.

“The Renaissance at Kelham Hall is the perfect venue to celebrate the district’s greatest accomplishments, and this year, we were proud to sponsor the Courage and Bravery Award.

“We honoured those who demonstrated exceptional heroics in difficult times.”

During the event, award winners were treated to a two-course meal, an award ceremony, and a lively party.

Here is the full list of the award winners:

 The Social Action Hub - Business Commitment to the Community (Sponsored by Newark College)

 Jude Gabbitas, Seth Gabbitas and Elliot Garland - Young Person of the Year (Sponsored by Murphy Group)

 Miles Harriman - Citizen of the Year (Sponsored by Ann et Vin)

 Carla Brown - Community Champion of the Year (Sponsored by Harworth Group)

 Newark Sea Cadets - Community Group of the Year (Sponsored by Bakkavor)

 Jane Hall - Education Provider of the Year (Sponsored by Newark and Sherwood District Council)

 Anthony Whyton - Courage and Bravery (Sponsored by Renaissance at Kelham Hall)

 Davy Yates - Emergency Services and Armed Forces Award (Sponsored by Motorfinity)

 Jeremy Reichelt - Creating Change for Sport and Physical Activity Award (Sponsored by Active4Today)

 Newark Academy U16’s Football Team - Sports Team of the Year (Sponsored by Ultimate Print and Design Ltd)

 Lorenzo Costantin - Sports Individual of the Year (Sponsored by Smiths Timber)

 Paula Drummond - Lifetime Commitment Award (Sponsored by Radio Newark)

 Bob Overbury - Irene Sendler Humanitarian Award (Sponsored by Polish Cultural Institute)

 Tom Marsden – Special Recognition Award