The Community Spirit Award, sponsored by Tama, is to praise clubs for the work they do to support their local community through fundraisers as well as practical support. This award celebrates the clubs that have gone above and beyond to support their rural communities.
Three judges chose our five finalists for this year's award and we will find out at the Awards ceremony on 3 November 2023 who is the winner.
Devon
Bradworthy YFC is a big supporter of local businesses and charities. Following NFYFC's Home Grown messages around sourcing local, this club go out of their way to ensure local produce is promoted at their community events. They lend a hand where they can – such as donating their float trailer to a local school to use as a stage and supporting local agricultural shows – and work closely with their local press to promote the impact YFC can have on a community. Bradworthy is a club that really cares about its local community and works hard to build supportive relationships within it.
Cumbria
The varied community activities that this club has instigated throughout the year is impressive. The kindness they showed by donating their floral arrangements to an often-overlooked demographic in the community was thoughtful and inspiring. They have supported local agricultural shows, planted hedgerows for the town council and held fundraisers. This is a club that celebrates community and is excellent at promoting the impact that YFC can make.
Pembrokeshire
Fishguard YFC showed an outstanding variety of ways it supports its local community. The club’s activities go beyond fundraisers to actual hands-on community action – from making Christmas hampers for the emergency services to spending time with a local primary school helping with painting, fence repairs, willow weaving and pallet recycling. The club's Recycle & Reuse Sports Shoe appeal was a particular highlight, especially as the club had researched and identified how they could have a big impact locally. The acknowledgement of their community work by others is impressive and reinforces that community spirit runs through the heart of this club.
Staffordshire FYFC
The county officer team have taken some positive actions to raise awareness of mental health following a local tragedy. They promoted helplines through their county officer clothing and encouraged talks in clubs from the Farming Community Network. Supporting the wider community has also been important to the county team who have organised a food bank appeal, collecting more than 700 items to donate throughout the year. Their commitment to the donations is to be applauded and the county team have done an excellent job of raising awareness of two important issues in their community.
Nottinghamshire
This club prioritises community work and ensures supporting others is a large element of its activities. Tuxford YFC is a keen supporter of its rural community but will also lend a hand to support other communities too – such as sending Christmas shoe boxes to Ukraine. From litter picks to fundraisers, Tuxford has a busy crew of helpers. The club’s innovative scheme to raise club funds by growing potatoes on an acre of local land, harvesting and selling locally, really stood out. The idea benefited YFC members, local businesses and local residents – bringing the whole community together.
The 2022 winners of the Community Spirit Award were Uwchaled YFC from Clwyd FYFC.