LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE AWARDS 2022

The Love Where You Live Awards are a community-wide celebration of people who make this a district to be proud of and they become more successful every year. A great deal of hard work has been going on across the district to make our communities better places to live and local people are at the heart of this.

Wakefield and District Housing

I’m excited to share that our Facebook group, Ossett Through the Ages (OTTA), won first prize in the ‘Digital in the Community’ category! The public voted for us in their thousands, and we couldn’t be happier!

I want to express my appreciation to all of our valued members for their unwavering support and remarkable contributions throughout the past seven extraordinary years. I am truly grateful.

Since its inception in 2015, OTTA has been a place where we can all gather and exchange treasured memories through the sharing of old photos. But OTTA has blossomed into so much more than that. Thanks to the power of Facebook, our community has expanded beyond geographical boundaries, bringing together individuals from all walks of life to create a vibrant digital community. And what a remarkable community we have become!

I’m told that mine was the reaction of the night. That’s because we were up against some tough competition and I was expecting to have my dinner and go home! I’m humbled that the public chose OTTA. I’m truly grateful and deeply touched by the overwhelming response we received. It was an unexpected honour to be recognised amidst such formidable contenders. I sincerely appreciate the support and votes from everyone involved.

This award means the world to me as I truly do Love Where I Live.

#LWYL2022

Anne-Marie Fawcett November 2022

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LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE AWARDS 2023

Tenants, residents and community groups from across the Wakefield district were among the winners at WDH’s 12th annual “Love Where You Live” Awards in November 2023.

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In 2023 OTTA was once again nominated for the Digital in the Community Award.

Thank you to everyone who voted for OTTA and for your support in making our group as good as it is. Facebook often gets bad press but, for us, it’s a great platform that provides us with the opportunity to reach around the world to anyone with a connection to Ossett. Let’s continue to concentrate on the positive side of the digital world. Congratulations to everyone who made it to the final. There were other local groups and individuals there too and I cheered them all on with a proper Ossett ‘whoop whoop’. There will be some who are pleased to hear that I lost my voice! Extra congratulations to our local winners and thank you again everyone!

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For the second year running WE CAME FIRST!!

More than 200 nominations were whittled down to 29 finalists who made outstanding contributions to their local communities over the past 12 months. Following deliberations over the nominees, WDH turned the final decision over to the public who voted to crown their 2023 winners. The community of Ossett voted in their thousands for Ossett Through The Ages (OTTA)! I can’t thank them enough.

Here is the full list of the 2023 winners:

• Community Group: Airedale Baby and Children’s Bank.
• Working with Older People: Senior Citizens’ Support Group.
• Digital in the Community: Ossett Through the Ages (OTTA).
• Community Champion: Dean Darley.
• Arts and Culture: Friarwood Festival.
• Young Achiever: Billy Hall.
• Best Garden: John Hawes.
• Working with Young People: Parents of Unique Children (POUCH).

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LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE AWARDS 2024

The annual Love Where You Live (LWYL) awards recognise individuals and groups who have made a positive difference in their communities.

As OTTA begins its 10th year as an online community group, our current membership stands at an incredible 13,600! That’s 13,600 people with memories to share, with history to teach us, and with treasure to find.

I really didn’t expect to win this award again. We were up against some stiff competition (as in previous years), so it was a tear inducing surprise when we were once again asked to take the stage to receive this award on behalf of all our contributors.

For three years running, Ossett Through The Ages (OTTA) has proven how a digital platform can be used to the advantage of the community.

Love Where You Live Awards 2024 Winners

Best Garden: Robert Cocliff

Young Achiever: Mia Boggett

Arts and Culture: Pontefract Reads

Working with Young People: Xuberdance

Working with Older People: Meet n Eats Diner

Digital in the Community: Ossett Through The Ages (OTTA)

Community Champion: Oliver Hajba

Community Group: Ferrybridge Community Centre