SEND Awards
“Nominated by the public, the winners are from all walks of life, of all ages, and from all over our borough. Their achievements are awe-inspiring and a lesson to us all. They say they are ordinary people, but their achievements are truly extraordinary.“
About the SEND Awards
The SEND Awards is a fantastic way of celebrating our local area’s amazing children and young people with SEND and the unsung heroes who support them and make a real difference to the lives of children and young people with additional needs and their families. This is a chance to cheer on achievements both big and small, people doing extraordinary things and show what can be achieved when we help each other and work together.
2024
Winners Video’s
Gallery
Winners
Adults and Organisations
Presenters
Jason is Lincolnshire FA’s Disability Football Ambassador with a commitment to ensuring football is a safe, enjoyable, and inclusive space for all, and what his role entails. Jason is also the Disability & Inclusion Lead at Grimsby Town Foundation. He has a visual impairment which developed as a teenager. Jason has been involved in disability football for over 20 years, as a player in the visually impaired National Football League, playing for teams such as Loughborough, Merseyside and RNC Hereford. He has also received several England caps playing for the first ever England Pan-Disability team and England Visually Impaired team.
In April 2024 popular beat bobby, Dave Cave declared Cleethorpes residents “the best in North East Lincolnshire” as he scooped a second award in two months. PC Cave received an award from The High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, in recognition of “Great and valuable service to the community.” This came hot on the heels of the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire’s “Good Neighbour Award” which he also received this year. Nothing is ever too much trouble for PC Dave, he takes community policing to the next level. Dave Cave – second to none policing, with an added smile!
Sarah Palmer is a project developer for community arts and a fantastically talented and successful local artist. Sarah works in watercolour and ink. She trained as a graphic designer, as a photographer and journalist and is a life-long calligrapher. She works in sketchbooks and paints and creates every single day. Sarah says, “Art feeds my soul. If I don’t get to paint each day, I don’t feel right. It’s a drive within me, and it also hugely helps my mental health, as it’s the ultimate way to be mindful. Pablo Picasso puts it better than I can”,
‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.’ You can see Sarah’s amazing artwork on Instagram: @thehousewiththebludoor
Tomos Marland is a returning winner and presenter to the SEND Awards. In 2022 he won the Creative Arts award for his passion for movie and film. Tomos is an Ambassador for SEND. He wants to shake up stereotypes about people with additional needs. Tomos has numerous accomplishments including being a Young Reporter, participating in the Youth Voice project, and winning the people’s vote at Linkage College, becoming the president of their Student Union.
James Elliott, Grimsby’s own Canoe River Cleaner has spent the last few years rowing up and down the waterways around NE Lincs and clearing algae and debris in an effort to our waterways more appealing to residents. He’s since become somewhat of a celebrity, turning the work into his living. James is an environmental inspiration for all our young people. Find out more about James at https://thecanoerivercleaner.co.uk
Jenni is North East Lincolnshire Service Director of Education and Inclusion Jenni says “We know that for many of our young people, attending school is not always easy. Extra support might be needed in the form of additional resource, extra time to complete tasks, or ensuring there’s always someone there to help and offer advice when it’s needed. To hear that the recipient of this award has not only managed to overcome a range of hurdles, but he’s also then still found the time to help and support his peers. This is an example of the Education and Learning award at its absolute finest.”
Director and honorary Grimbarian Jack Spring is a multi-international award winning director who, in 2019, became the UK’s youngest feature director. In 2020, Jack directed his debut TV project and in 2022 his second feature film Three Day Millionaire, about a gang of Grimsby Trawler-men who carry out the heist of a lifetime. This film included many scenes shot on location in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. It peaked at number 5 on Netflix in the UK. In 2023 Jack directed project, All Town Aren’t We, a limited series on Grimsby Town Football Club’s miraculous 2021-2022 season and his beloved Grimsby Town’s epic 18-month journey.
What is YPAG? The SEND Young People’s Advisory Group is a group of young people with SEND aged 12 – 19. It is a friendly and informal group of students who meet regularly to chat, play games, shape our local offer for SEND, meet with guest speakers to offer feedback and views about our local area.
Cameron and Cody are cousins and regular YPAG members. They have helped to choose the winners for today’s event! Thank you, Cameron and Cody, for your continued support for Young People with SEND in our local area and for your valuable contributions to the YPAG group.
Find out more about YPAG on NE Lincs SEND Local Offer https://sendlocaloffer.nelincs.gov.uk/young-persons-advisory-group-ypag/
SENCo Kate and Principal Neville head the team at a new specialist primary school for children with communication and interaction needs in Grimsby. ‘Launchpad’ is the first specialist provision of its type in North East Lincolnshire. It is designed to provide support and intervention to early years children and those in Key Stage 1. The new provision, delivered by Wellspring’s Littlecoates Primary Academy, is the result of a partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council. Launchpad’s success over the past academic year has been phenomenal! The cooperation of local education settings who work in conjunction with our council helps us to provide the best for local children and young people with SEND.
Rebecca says “As the Head of SEND and Inclusion for North East Lincolnshire, I firmly believe that all children have ability and the potential to achieve and as adults it is our job to unlock that potential and provide opportunities for their abilities to shine through. In my role, I have the absolute privilege of working with our partners across the education, health and care sector to ensure that we continue to improve the experiences for children and young people in our borough”.
The Mayor for 2024/25 is Councillor Steve Beasant. He was elected by his fellow councillors at the Mayor Making Ceremony on 15 May 2024. The Mayor is the first citizen of North East Lincolnshire and undertakes an important ceremonial role in and outside the borough. However, this role is different from some Mayors and Lord Mayors, such as the elected Mayor of London. The Mayor of North East Lincolnshire is politically neutral in carrying out all of their Mayoral duties. Welcome, Mister Mayor.
A supported internship allows young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Autism and/or learning disabilities who also have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) the chance to experience working with the support of a job coach. Giving young people the opportunity to grow through a supported internship, gain new skills and grow in confidence and independence is so valuable to both them and the community. In NE Lincs we have interns in roles such as grounds maintenance and hospitality (Reflections Tea Room) at Grimsby Crematorium, we also have interns at Diana Princess of Wales Hospital and a new upcoming offer with Humberside Police starting in September 2024. Regan, 20, is a perfect example. He has been working with the Hospital Estates team since September 2023 and is already regarded as one of the team, spending time with them socially, as well as being a firm favourite in the workshop. Known throughout the Trust for being friendly and helpful, the team has even started to learn sign language in their own time, to help them to communicate better with Regan, who is deaf.
Judging
Who picks the winners? The YPAG Group is a group of children and young people with SEND who meet regularly to take part in activities. They are meet with a panel of special guests, and notable figures from around our borough to decide who wins from shortlisted candidates.
