Despite the ongoing pandemic we are so pleased to see that you have taken the time to nominate your community heroes for our Love Where You Live Awards and we want to make sure that they get the recognition they deserve That’s why we are holding our ninth Love Where You Live Awards a little differently with our first ever virtual event! Voting is now open!

Young achievers and community heroes in the Wakefield district who make a positive difference to our communities will be celebrated in our ninth annual Love Where You Live awards. You are invited to nominate people for the hard work they put in to make the Wakefield district a better place to live. This year the contest will feature eight categories, with each of the shortlisted finalists in with the chance of winning a prize of £200, £100 or £50 thanks to our sponsors Sodexo. Following feedback from last year’s awards, in 2020 we see the return of our working with young people category, which celebrates the work of individuals and groups across the district working with young people to help them reach their potential and make a difference. Our Best Garden award is now open to groups as well as individuals, so if you know of any community gardens make sure to nominate them! Last year, the awards were completely digital and we received over 70 nominations and over 13,000 votes for our finalists! WDH Chief Executive, Andy Wallhead said: “Our Love Where You Live Awards are a community-wide celebration of people who make this a district to be proud of and they become more successful every year. It is important that we celebrate the hard work and dedication that these people put into making their neighbourhoods friendlier, safer and even more enjoyable places to be. You can nominate yourself or anyone you think deserves recognition for their efforts.” To nominate a person or a group for a Love Where You Live award, please complete the form on our dedicated website. If you need help to complete your nomination form please call 0345 8 507 507 and one of our Digital Angels can arrange to meet you and help or visit your nearest Service Access Point and one of our employees will help you. You really can make a difference. So get online and nominate for your community heroes. Nominations close 7 August 2020.    

Tenants, residents and community groups were among the winners at WDH’s annual Love Where You Live Awards grand final.

Voting for the winner of our Love Where You Live Awards will open on Tuesday 27 August. You can place your votes for your community champions on the dedicated website, www.lovewhereyouliveawards.co.uk, which has information on each finalist.

Young achievers and community heroes in the Wakefield district who make a positive difference to our communities will be celebrated in our eighth annual Love Where You Live awards.

Rob Stringer won the Best Garden award in WDH’s 2018 Love Where You Live Awards.

Angela Thomas won the Community Champion category in WDH’s 2018 Love Where You Live Awards. Angela set up The Bag Fairies in November 2014 at The Pavilion, South Kirkby. The group supports anyone in need in the local community.  Angela and the group have provided clothing for people, ranging from new-borns to older people, as well as providing bedding, towels and homewares for the homeless and vulnerable who are moving into their own accommodation. The Bag Fairies are self-funded and rely solely on donations, there is no referral service and customers can just call in when they need to. They also provide a number of personal hygiene toiletries to the vulnerable and homeless and work closely with WDH Cash Wise to support families in need.  The group is going from strength to strength and their room is packed to the rafters with donations. Angela goes above and beyond to help and all of this is done in her own time. On winning the award, she said: “Community is not just a word, it is an attitude. Bag fairies is a community in action reaching out to help all those around us who are vulnerable and in need, so I am delighted to have won this award on their behalf.”

Friends of Fryston Woods Group took the Digital in the Community Award in WDH’s 2018 Love Where You Live Awards.

Janet Ward runs the Hemsworth Open Heart Memory Café each month. The café is run by a group of volunteers and is regularly attended by 30 to 40 people from across the South East of Wakefield. The café is for people with Alzheimer’s and their carers and provides a place where they can come along and socialise with others. They provide a number of activities suitable for people with dementia and older people including boccia, jigsaws, bean bag activities and regular sing alongs. The group also hold another weekly session for older people which aims at reducing social isolation amongst the older community and are looking at organising some trips for them.

5 Towns Community Radio won the Community Group Category in WDH’s 2018 Love Where You Live Awards having beat previous champions Havercroft Parents Forum after a fierce battle for digital votes.