Schools, volunteers, parish councils, farmers and residents from across Northamptonshire have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to flood resilience, nature-based action and climate education at a special community awards event hosted by the RAIN Project.

The inaugural Flood & Toast – Resilience & Innovation Community Awards, held on 4 December, brought together people from across the Harpers Brook and Wootton Brook catchments to celebrate the everyday actions helping communities adapt to a changing climate.

Led by the RAIN Project (Resilience and Innovation Northants) and supported by ten project partners and sponsors, the afternoon recognised those quietly getting on with the job — planting trees, supporting neighbours, managing land differently and helping young people understand flood risk.

In total, 11 award categories were presented, with RAIN’s project partners sponsoring each category and personally presenting trophies to the winners. From primary school pupils to parish councillors, landowners to lifelong volunteers, the event highlighted the breadth of people driving flood resilience on the ground.

Flood & Toast Award Winners 2025

Climate-Resilient Schools Award (sponsored by the Environment Agency)

  • Gold: Oakley Vale Primary School – recognised for assemblies, tree planting and multiple SuDS planters helping pupils understand flood risk and climate change
  • Silver: Woodland View Primary School
  • Bronze: Wootton Primary School

Young Resilience Champion (sponsored by HR Wallingford)

  • Winner: Tommy Brumpton – for designing and building a RAIN garden as part of a home-schooling project

Community Friend Award (sponsored by Nene Rivers Trust)

  • Winners: Paula Addision-Pettit and Steph Beckett, Brigstock Village – for unwavering support to residents at Harpers Court sheltered housing

Nature’s Champion Group Award (sponsored by Woodland Dwelling)

  • Winner: Wild About Wootton – for tireless work improving flora and fauna across the Wootton catchment
  • Certificate of Merit: Oakley Vale Rangers – for free music lessons offered to young adults volunteering in tree planting and litter picking

Flood-Resilient Farmer Award (sponsored by Landscape Enterprise Networks)

  • Winner: Hugh Shrive – for wetland creation, cover cropping and other natural flood management measures
  • Special Mention: Steve Armstrong – for longstanding NFM leadership in Wootton

Flood Action Group Award (sponsored by Resilico)

  • Winner: Brigstock Village Hall Committee – for sustained efforts to protect and fundraise for a vital community space

Flood Action Individual Award (sponsored by Watertight International)

  • Winners: Brian, Dave, Jennifer and Katie from Harpers Court – for stepping up during flood events to support neighbours

People’s Choice Award (sponsored by BioScapes)

  • Winner: Nick Perkins – for supporting elderly neighbours during floods while managing impacts at his own home

Nature’s Champion Individual Award (sponsored by Ebsford Environmental)

  • Winner: Mick Lorkin – for leading tree planting, mentoring volunteers and driving local environmental action

Parish Support Award (sponsored by 3Keel)

  • Winner: East Hunsbury Parish Council – recognised for a proactive, practical approach to flood resilience and community planting

Mentor Award (presented by Alan Ryan, RAIN Programme Lead)

  • Winner: Bruce Durham, Harborough Woodlands – for outstanding leadership in community flood resilience and support to at-risk communities

Sarah Parr, Project Manager for RAIN, said the event was about recognising the human side of flood resilience.

“This afternoon was a celebration of the kindness, innovation and community spirit that defines flood resilience work,” she said. “From hedgerow planting and SuDS schemes to neighbours checking on each other during a storm, every action matters — and today we celebrated just some of the people making our region more resilient.”

The Flood & Toast Awards were made possible through the support of RAIN’s project partners, with Watertight International acting as lead sponsor. Special guest Mary Long-Dhonau OBE, also known as ‘Flood Mary’, attended to co-host the event.

Sarah Parr added: “Flood resilience doesn’t happen through grand gestures. It happens through consistent, practical action and deep care for local places. From school children planting trees to volunteers digging in week after week, these awards shine a light on the people making that happen.”

Looking ahead to 2026

RAIN is inviting Northamptonshire businesses, organisations and individuals inspired by the awards to get involved — whether through supporting future natural flood management projects or sponsoring the 2026 Flood & Toast Awards.

The project is also keen to hear from people interested in leading local flood action groups, including retired engineers, ecologists, farmers, planners and community organisers.

To find out more, contact Project Manager Sarah Parr at sarah.parr@westnorthants.gov.uk.

The RAIN Project is funded by Defra as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, managed by the Environment Agency.

More information is available at www.rainnorthants.co.uk.

Images Credit: The RAIN Project