Winners of the 2023 Lincolnshire Sport & Physical Activity Awards announced.

Winners of the 2023 Lincolnshire Sport & Physical Activity Awards announced.

On Thursday 9^th November, the biggest and brightest stars championing physical activity and sport across Lincolnshire were celebrated in a glittering awards ceremony.

Organised by Active Lincolnshire and headline sponsored by Lindum, the 19th edition of the annual Lincolnshire Sport & Physical Activity Awards took place at the Engine Shed in Lincoln, bringing together an audience of around 300 passionate and inspiring individuals and organisations, to honour their incredible contribution.

The Awards were hosted by Ladi Ajayi, a sports and physical activity professional who recently featured in the BBC’s Race Across the World, and Kyle Campbell, a local and international sports commentator. The duo expertly shared the heart-warming and moving stories and successes of 33 finalists, before revealing the 11 winners for 2023.

The 2023 Lincolnshire Sport & Physical Activity Award Winners:

Inclusion and Diversity Award (sponsored by England Golf) – Royal Vulcans Cheer and Dance

Active Event Award (sponsored by University of Lincoln) – AquaPaddle Lincoln

Outstanding Service to Sport & Physical Activity Award (sponsored by Leonardo) – Paul Fowler

Positive Experiences for Children and Young People Award (sponsored by Lincoln College) – Dimension Skatepark

Unsung Hero Award (sponsored by Better) – Lianne Havell

Impact on Health Award (sponsored by Chestnut Homes) – Fighting Fit

Active Workplace Award (sponsored by Wright Vigar) – Lincoln College

Active Achievement Award (sponsored by Lincolnshire Community Foundation) – Steve Robinson

Active School Award (sponsored by Lincolnshire Agricultural Society) – St Nicholas C.E. Primary Academy

Active Change Award (sponsored by Skegness Gateway) – Limi Jones

Active Club Award (sponsored by Street Tag) – Pink Ladies Running Club

From unsung heroes of grassroots sports clubs and volunteers who give up their time to support others to be active, to businesses and organisations creating opportunities to allow people facing the greatest barriers to be active to participate, last night’s celebration truly recognised the commitment and passion of those constantly working to proudly contribute towards the health and wellbeing of Lincolnshire’s residents through sport and physical activity.

The much-loved annual Lincolnshire Sport & Physical Activity Awards recognise the positive impact physical activity has on people’s lives in the county and celebrate those who actively contribute towards and support that agenda.

Topping 2022’s event, this year saw the largest number of nominations submitted to the Active Lincolnshire team in recent years. Across the projects, activities, and achievements highlighted in the heart-warming nominations, a real variety and diversity shone through.

 Emma Tatlow, CEO of Active Lincolnshire said: “What an incredible night! The awards are always a highlight in the Lincolnshire sport and physical activity calendar, the atmosphere last night was so full of celebration, admiration and appreciation. All of our finalists this year have gone above and beyond to champion the countless benefits that are to be found in being active and getting moving. 

“A huge congratulations to all our finalists and of course the winners that were crowned for 2023. Your stories, efforts and unbridled dedication to your causes are outstanding. The work that was celebrated last night truly is a testament to what is going on across the county in supporting people to be active. 

“These awards aren’t just a one-night celebration. While they provide an opportunity to honour just some of the individuals, groups and organisations whose dedication and commitment are enabling others to enjoy the benefits of physical activity they also positively promote the importance of physical activity to the health, well-being and vitality of the people of Lincolnshire, and how by working together we can all achieve more and provide more options for everyone to be active.”

The eleven award categories featured this year included the return of popular categories such as The Active Change Award, sponsored by Skegness Gateway; The Active Workplace Award sponsored by Wright Vigar and the Active Schools Award, sponsored by Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. New categories for 2023 were the Active Event Award, sponsored by the University of Lincoln, which recognises events of any size that encourage people to move more, and the Active Achievement Award, sponsored by Lincolnshire Community Foundation, which celebrates a specific outstanding achievement of personal significance, from fundraising challenges to sporting success.

Categories introduced last year to reflect the priorities of the Let’s Move Lincolnshire strategy, and carried forward for 2023, were the Impact on Health Award, sponsored by Chestnut Homes, which celebrates a programme or approach to physical activity that has improved the health and well-being of participants, and the Inclusion and Diversity Award, sponsored by England Golf, which recognises anyone involved with sport or physical activity in Lincolnshire, who are making a significant impact on people from under-represented groups, reducing inequalities and increasing diversity within physical activity.

This year’s winners and finalists reflect the diverse range of opportunities to be active in Lincolnshire, with an ever-increasing number of activities just waiting to be discovered on ‘our’ doorstep with paddleboarding, skateboarding, mountain biking and litter picking featuring alongside more traditional sports in the nominations. The wide range of activities showcased across all of the categories this year shone a spotlight on how people across the county are getting active in new ways; revealing that there are an increasing number of opportunities to be active on offer across the county.

One thing that soon became apparent to the panel of independent judges, when deliberating over the 2023’s nominations, was the clear dedication to the positive benefits activity has on our mental health, with many working hard to promote and support participants’ mental well-being through physical activity or having transformed their own mental health through taking part in sport or being active.

Lindum MD, Freddie Chambers, commented: “These awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the unsung heroes of Lincolnshire’s grassroots and school sports communities. As an industry which relies on the physical capability of employees in active roles, we are huge advocates of the way sport can support fitness and mental well-being while helping to instil teamwork in participants. Lindum has a long history of supporting local sports groups and has been the headline sponsor of Lincolnshire Tennis for a number of years.”