YSF celebrates Doncaster’s finest at the Heart of Doncaster Awards

Heart of Doncaster 2026

Club Doncaster Sports Village hosted a brilliant evening last week as Yorkshire Sport Foundation joined partners, community heroes, and local organisations to celebrate the incredible people and groups making a difference across the borough at the Heart of Doncaster Awards.

YSF was proud to sponsor the Active School of the Year Award, which New Pastures Primary School took home. A well-deserved win and a wonderful recognition of the hard work that makes physical activity a genuine part of school life.

The evening was full of inspiring stories of personal achievement and community spirit, reminding us how much is happening across Doncaster when people are given the space and support to thrive. Thanks to Club Doncaster for bringing everyone together and creating such a warm, celebratory atmosphere.

Representing YSF on the night were Alex Ogden, Education and School Sport Manager; Joe Thompson, Director of Development; Nathan Barthrop, Development Manager for Barnsley and Doncaster; Charlotte Faint, Communities Development Manager for South Yorkshire; and Rachel Standish, Admin Assistant.

Nathan said: “It was a real privilege to attend the Heart of Doncaster Awards on behalf of Yorkshire Sport Foundation and to sponsor the Active School of the Year Award. Having seen the event grow over the last five years, it’s fantastic to see how it continues to shine a light on the people and organisations making a real difference across Doncaster.

"Club Doncaster Foundation deserves huge credit not only for the work they do across Doncaster, but also for organising such a fantastic evening that celebrates so many inspiring stories. It was a great reminder of the positive impact sport and physical activity can have on people’s lives. Congratulations to New Pastures Primary School on their well-deserved win, and to everyone recognised on the night for the difference they make across the city.”

Sponsoring the Active School of the Year Award reflects our commitment to supporting schools across Yorkshire to put physical activity at the heart of everything they do. Through our Active Schools work, we connect, influence, and support education settings and local stakeholders to embed movement into policy and practice, so every child builds a positive relationship with physical activity and the foundations for an active life. From PE conferences and the Creating Active Schools Framework to support with PE and Sport Premium, our aim is to help schools across the region go beyond the tick box and create lasting, meaningful change.

Congratulations to New Pastures Primary School and to all of the nominees and winners. Events like the Heart of Doncaster Awards remind us of what communities can achieve together.

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