Who has won Village of the Year at Suffolk Community Awards?

The winners were crowned last night at a ceremony at Stowmarket's Food Museum and were among many worthy groups honoured at the occasion jointly staged by Community Action Suffolk (CAS), Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk Association of Local Councils (SALC).

A total of 15 awards were presented on the night, including Small Village of the Year, Large Village of the Year and Town of the Year.

This followed a summer of judging which saw a haul of 162 nominations painstakingly assessed by representatives from the trio of organising bodies.

The Ipswich Junior Park Run Core team were among the winners (Image: Warren Page)

The 2023 Town and Village categories was particularly hard fought with COCKFIELD eventually crowned the Small Village winner.

Bucklesham and Theberton & Eastbridge were highly commended in the category.

Meanwhile, Large Village of the Year was so hotly contested, the judges eventually decided there would have to be TWO winners, with KESSINGLAND and THURSTON sharing the prize.

Town of the Year went to SUDBURY.

Stowmarket and Kesgrave were highly commended. 

Chris Abraham with Kevin Ward (Image: Warren Page)

As well as the SALC Town and Village of the Year awards, there were four other categories: the CAS Community Awards, CAS Children and Young People Awards, Suffolk’s Most Active Community Awards and CAS Volunteering Awards.

For the first time this year, the awards also included a specific Faith Award, presented by Rt Revd Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

This award was won by Red Lodge Lightwave, a Christian community organisation which cares for its community by running a café, after-school clubs and debt advice.

The Colonel Probert Award, presented by Geoffrey Probert in memory of his father, went to Compassionate Companions, who help to support those reaching the end of their life.

Winner of this year’s Roddy Macleod Award, for a youth group or organisation, was CYDS – Young People Taking Action.

Most Active Village went to Coddenham and Most Active Town to Mildenhall.

The Suffolk Good Neighbour Award was presented to Acton GNS and Event Organiser of the Year went to Ipswich Junior parkrun Core Team.

Jean Kent summed up the spirit of the night (Image: Warren Page)

And most heartwarming award of the night was surely the Ian Campbell MBE award which went to Jean Evans for her amazing efforts cooking hot dinners at Barrow community centre every Friday. Her words summed up the spirit of the entire evening.

'No one should have to eat alone,' she said. 

The full list of winners are as follows:

CAS COMMUNITY AWARDS
Colonel Probert Award presented by Geoffrey Probert
Winner: Compassionate Companions

Ian Campbell MBE Award
Winner: Jean Evans

Village Hall & Community Building Award
Sponsored by Business Services at Community Action Suff olk
Winner: Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre

The Faith Award presented by Bishop Martin Seeley
Winner: Red Lodge Lightwave

SALC TOWN AND VILLAGE OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Sponsored by West Suffolk Council, East Suffolk Council, Breakthrough Communications, Babergh District Council, Mid Suffolk District Council and Parish Online
Small Village of the Year presented by Cllr Katie Graham, Cllr Donna Higgins and Vicky Moseley
Winner: Cockfield
Highly commended: Bucklesham and Theberton & Eastbridge

Large Village of the Year presented by Baroness Scott of Needham Market
Joint Winners: Kessingland and Thurston

Town of the Year presented by Sir Edward Greenwell BART and Cllr Julie Bell
Winner: Sudbury
Highly commended: Stowmarket and Kesgrave

CAS CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AWARDS
Andrew Towers Award presented by Norman & Glenys Towers
Winner: Rosie Burl

Roddy Macleod Award presented by Hector Macleod & Elizabeth Constantine
Winner: CYDS

Anne Dunford OBE Award presented by Christine Abraham
Winner: Inspire team - Naomi Morgan, Keith Mcdowell and Alex Worne

SUFFOLK'S MOST ACTIVE COMMUNITY AWARDS
Most Active Village presented by Cllr Bobby Bennett
Winner: Coddenham

Most Active Town presented by Cllr Keith Robinson
Winner: Mildenhall

CAS VOLUNTEERING AWARDS
Suffolk Good Neighbour Award presented by Melanie Craig
Sponsored by Suffolk Community Foundation
Winner: Acton GNS

Event Organiser of the Year presented by Giles Kerkham
Sponsored by Larking Gowen
Winner: Ipswich junior parkrun core team

Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering Award presented by Karl Shipp and Kate Grant
Sponsored by Cadent
Winner: Kelly Bennett

Cllr Katie Graham, East Suffolk Cabinet Member for Communities, Leisure and Tourism, was one of the judges. She said: “We are thrilled to have been able to honour so many wonderful projects, individuals and organisations for their great work in the community.  

“The ceremony is always an emotional but wonderful celebratory occasion and we extend our best wishes to every single winner.”

Chris Abraham, CEO of Community Action Suffolk, said: “An occasion like this is so important for Suffolk, as it really shines the spotlight on the great work being carried out by so many volunteers across their communities.  Congratulations to everyone on their award.”