Changemaker Awards 2023

Off The Streets NN

For dedication to reducing knife crime in Northamptonshire through education and life-saving interventions.

Black Criminology Network

For dedication to raising awareness of the importance of Black history to understanding complex criminological issues.

Dr. Tereza Aidonopoulou-Read

For dedication to equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education.

Perception Theatre

For tackling current social issues through the power of acting and storytelling.

The Frank Bruno Foundation

For the creation of mental health and wellbeing programmes that champion boxing as a positive development tool.

Village International Education Centre

For the provision of a unique special educational needs learning environment in Bangkok.

Jenny Munro

For dedication to developing primary education through Changemaker and social innovation.

James Wright for commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing services through the Frank Bruno Foundation.

Terri Benamore from The Kiri Clinic, offering high-quality post-operative medical tattooing services.

The Factory Hair Studio for tackling inequality and systemic issues in the hair industry, driving positive social change through commercial business.

Linda Davis-Sinclair

This year’s Special Recognition Award recognises an individual who has dedicated themselves to creating positive impact through their professional and personal life, contributing to the UON student experience and local and national community organisations. The 2023 award truly recognises a long-standing commitment that is deserving of being celebrated.

Linda Davis-Sinclair moved to Northampton in Summer 1993 where she worked part-time for Volunteer Reading Help, which set her up with a strong network of County volunteers and supporters when she joined the University in June 2002 as the manager of UCN Community Volunteers. This was the start of creating a network of activity and community building that enabled students and staff at the university to contribute their time, skills and knowledge to the community. This included many different activities with a strong focus on fundraising to support local, national and international charities. Between 2004 and 2010, together with her team and many student and staff volunteers, she led activities that raised a total of £46,000.

Through her work, the university was the first Higher Education establishment to train and deliver Positive Play Leaders, enabling our students to train with PE specialists to deliver activities in primary schools. Her passion for providing educational opportunities both for our students and the community can be seen in other activities including reading groups, STEM activities and her involvement with Reading for Schools. This is further demonstrated by her success at embedding volunteering into what was then called our Social and Community Development programme, the first course of its kind at UON to officially recognise volunteering in the community as an academic activity through which students could develop both personally and professionally.

Outside of this curriculum engagement, Linda is a great believer in giving students the opportunity and responsibility to develop projects that create positive change. 2006 saw the start of many student-led projects that have impacted a variety of areas such as health and wellbeing, education and the environment. These projects included Bucketeers, ArtBlast, Number Partners, Nightline and Lab in a Lorry, but genuinely there are too many to list. The number of UON students who have benefitted from this opportunity under inspiring leadership is just one credit to Linda’s name. But her focus hasn’t just been on students, the recipient of this year’s award also has a long history of encouraging staff to volunteer their skills and time. One of many bespoke opportunities was Speakeasy, set up as a staff project to help our international students with their conversational English. Staff became mentors helping students to not only build their confidence in spoken English but also to make connections with other students to enhance their university experience.

The combination of these projects, alongside students and staff being supported to volunteer in wider communities, meant that in just a six-year period, UON volunteers contributed a total of £963,000 of impact to communities. Linda’s dedication was recognised in 2008 when the then-named Centre for Community Volunteering won National Team of the Year at the Higher Education.