Boston Borough Council has revealed the 10 winners of the Boston Heroes Recognition Awards.

Launched with the aim of shining a light on those who have gone above and beyond to show kindness and make the town a better place to live, especially during the pandemic, the awards received over 240 nominations.

Judging was conducted by a panel of key members of the community who represented Boston’s rich and diverse community.

Each winner was awarded a £50 voucher to spend at a local restaurant of their choice and a new Boston (UK) Monopoly Board.  The winners also took part in a professional photoshoot, with each photo set to be displayed in prominent locations across Boston over the coming months.

In addition Boston Borough Council will be holding a special event in order to celebrate everyone who was nominated.

The nominees spanned a variety of backgrounds from all walks of life, with each submission detailing the impact so many people have had on the lives of the community during a challenging period.

The winners included Karen who was nominated for keeping the 5th Boston Scout Group entertained virtually during lockdown, and becoming a beacon of light for the young scouts. Meanwhile, teenager Lily was chosen in recognition of her volunteer work within the care home community. Not only did she support during mealtimes, but she was also praised for lending an ear to the residents and keeping them company.

Working as clinical lead, Lynda Stockwell was selected for how she supported NHS staff at the COVID-19 vaccination hub at the Princess Royal Sports Arena during an overwhelmingly busy period. Similarly, Head of Year at Haven High Academy, Tina Sargeant, was recognised for the way  in which she created support bubbles during the pandemic for over 1300 students to ensure access to mental health support was available.

During the pandemic many families didn’t have access to meals, so Patsie Marson led a fundraising drive to provide food parcels for those in need, a move which also landed her a win, while leading medical professional, Professor Van-Tam, was nominated for how he supported Boston during the pandemic and provided an encouraging voice when times became difficult.

Further winners come in the form of Rachel Bray who organised fundraising events for Pilgrim Hospital to help provide more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff, while Richard Green was chosen for the way he persevered with his role at the NHS, helping staff and patients, despite suffering with ill health himself.

Principal of Josie Clarke Academy of Dance, Josie received high praise for how she went above and beyond to support families and children by continuing virtual lessons during lockdown and supporting various community projects. Steve Slater’s dedication to keeping Boston clean for all through his Wyberton Wombles initiative received a record number of nominations. Over the past year, with his team, he’s led a litter-picking drive, which was praised for how it made a difference to the community and encouraged others to come together to fight for a cleaner, brighter Boston, Steve accepted the award on behalf of all the Wybeton Wombles.

Commenting on the winners of the Boston Heroes Recognition Awards, Michelle Sacks, Deputy Chief Executive for Growth at Boston Borough Council, said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce our Boston Heroes and put a spotlight on those who showed strength, resilience and community spirit when it was needed the most. We were touched by the response to the campaign and it was such a hard decision to whittle it down to just 10 winners. Every nomination submitted told a story of the remarkable efforts of so many members of our community, and it was lovely to be able to celebrate just how wonderful the people of Boston are.

“Whilst the pandemic is certainly challenging for us all, it’s clear there have been so many that have gone above and beyond to show kindness and a willingness to make Boston a better place to live. From creating mental health support bubbles, to helping make Boston a cleaner and safer environment for all as well as numerous volunteers devoting their time to help fight against the virus, just reading through the nominations made us all incredibly proud of the individuals that make up our great town.

“As the winter months progress and the threat of the new COVID-19 variant looms, it’s clear the pandemic is not over yet and  there are still more uncertain times ahead. However, if there’s one thing these awards have proven, it is the power of togetherness and I know Boston will once again rally together to offer support through these challenging times. A huge congratulations to our winners, for their very well deserved wins. We are looking forward to being able to hold a recognition ceremony for all nominees in 2022.”

Leader of Boston Borough Council, Councillor Paul Skinner, said: “The response to this campaign has been really overwhelming. It has been amazing to read through the entries and to see how the people of Boston come together when times have been tough.

“These awards gave us the opportunity to celebrate Boston’s many unsung heroes and share the many excellent examples of community spirit that have happened day-in, day-out over the past year and a half. From selfless acts of support for struggling children and families to volunteering efforts and charity fundraising, there have been lots of brilliant examples of the ways our community has touched the lives of so many, and it makes me incredibly proud to be serving such a fantastic town.

“A big congratulations to all those who have been nominated and for our ten very deserving winners.”