The 2022 Findmypast Community Award winner

8-9 minute read

By The Findmypast Team | August 11, 2022

The Findmypast Community Award recognises and celebrates the everyday heroes of family history. Read on to see who you chose as your winner this year.

Over the past few weeks, we asked you to nominate the one person that’s helped you most on your family history journey and, as always, you haven’t disappointed us with your responses. We received plenty of nominations for this year's Findmypast Community Award and have been moved and inspired by your stories.

Our judge, Jessamy Carlson from The National Archives, shortlisted her three favourite entries and we wish we could give each and every deserving nominee a prize. Then we returned the choice back to you, to choose your winner. And here are the results.

Winner: Margaret Roberts

Community member Sylvia nominated Margaret for her tireless efforts as Publicity and Social Media Officer for Cheshire Family History Society. In Sylvia’s words, Margaret is “Wonder Woman”, producing and delivering an endless stream of helpful articles, social media posts and talks. Despite her hectic schedule, Margaret always makes time to respond to individual ‘brick wall’ questions with great suggestions for overcoming the problems.

A huge congratulations to Margaret for winning this year's Findmypast Community Award, and thank you for everything you do. We'd also like to recognise our wonderful runners up.

Runner up: Paul Chiddicks

Paul’s kindness, knowledge and wicked sense of humour are just a few of the reasons Ann has nominated him for the Findmypast Community Award. Ann is building a new career path and Paul has gone out of his way to support her in the development of her social media presence. Proving just how nice a person he is, Paul thinks he is undeserving of an award. Ann and many others wholeheartedly disagree.

Runner up: Chris Lang

As one of our Findmypast Forum moderators, Chris volunteers her expertise to our community every day. Bridget Kelly appreciates this guidance so much, that she’s nominated Chris for our award. With Chris’ help, Bridget has been able to take her family research to the next level. Moreover, she also learns a lot from Chris’ helpful responses to other questions on the Forum.

Voting for this year's Findmypast Community Award winner is now closed. The lucky winner was announced live on the Findmypast Fridays broadcast at 16:00 BST on Friday 12 August. The winner has received a prize bundle packed with family history goodies. See below for full terms and conditions.

The grand prize

The Findmypast Community Award winner will be treated to a prize package worth hundreds of pounds. This incredible bundle consists of:

12-month Pro/Ultimate Findmypast subscription

Enjoy VIP access all areas to Findmypast with our top-level subscription. And if you’re already a loyal subscriber, we’ll add 12 more months to your account for free.

12-month Pro Findmypast gift subscription

There's no present quite like their past. Treat a loved one to a most unique journey of discovery - their family history, with a Findmypast gift subscription on us.

Findmypast and partner merchandise

Snuggle up, hot drink in hand, with an exclusive Findmypast gift. It includes a comfy hoodie in the size of your choice and a branded mug. And step out in style with The National Archives' tote bag filled with treats from our partners there.

1-year digital subscription to Family Tree magazine

Everything you need to grow your family tree can be found in its pages, with how-to guides, stories and more.

Terms and conditions

These Terms and Conditions prevail in the event of any conflict or inconsistency with any other communications, including advertising or promotional materials. Entry/claim instructions are deemed to form part of the terms and conditions and by participating all claimants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the terms and conditions. Please retain a copy for your information.

1. The Promoter: Findmypast, Clerk’s Court, First Floor, 18-20 Farringdon Lane, London EC1R 3AU (registered in England and Wales, registered company number 4369607)

2. The Supplier: The competition prize consists of prizes from multiple suppliers. See ‘9. Prize Fund’ below.

3. Eligibility: This clause 3 applies to all entrants and their nominees. This prize promotion is open to individuals aged 18 years or over, except:

(a) employees of The Promoter or its group companies;

(b) employees of associated agents or suppliers of the Promoter or its group companies, who are professionally connected with the competition or its administration’ or

(c) members of the immediate families or households of (a) and (b) above. Promotional Period: The promotional period runs from 10 am BST on Tuesday 19 July 2022 until 10 am BST on Friday 11 August 2022. Nominations will be accepted from Tuesday 19 July 2022 (the “Opening Date”) until 10 am BST on Friday 29 July (the “Closing Date”). The public vote runs from 10 am BST on Monday 8 August 2022 until 3 pm BST on Thursday 11 August 2022. All competition entries must be received by the Promoter by the Closing Date. All competition entries received after the Closing Date are automatically disqualified.

5. Entry Instructions: To enter, nominate someone you think deserves a prize for helping you with your family history via the form on this page before 10 am BST on Friday 29 July. Ensure you have the nominee’s permission before entering. To enter you’ll need to provide your name and email address, the nominee’s name and the reason you are nominating them.

6. Entrants may nominate one nominee only and may make only one entry to the competition. All additional entries will be disqualified.

7. Any entries that the Promoter considers (in our absolute discretion) to be dangerous, vulgar, offensive, indecent, illegal, racist, copied, offensive, cruel or fraudulent, or infringe on the rights or copyright of others will be immediately disqualified.

8. No third party or bulk entries. If it becomes apparent that either a participant or household is using any means to circumvent this condition such as, and without limitation, multiple email accounts, multiple reproduced or computer-generated entries, using multiple identities, fraudulently falsifying data, acting fraudulently or dishonestly in the opinion of the promoter or otherwise acting in violation of these terms, these participants will be disqualified, and any prize entitlement will be void.

Incomplete, illegible, misdirected or late entries will not be accepted. Proof of sending will not be accepted as proof of delivery or receipt. No responsibility can be accepted for entries that are incomplete, lost due to technical reasons, corrupted, delayed, wrongly delivered, or not received for whatsoever reason.

9. Prize Fund: The winner of the Promoter’s Community Awards will receive the following prize package:

· 1 x Findmypast 12-month Pro/Ultimate subscription

· 1 x Findmypast 12-month Pro gift subscription

· 1 x Findmypast hooded sweatshirt

· 1 x Findmypast mug

· 1 x The National Archives tote bag

· 1 x 1-year digital subscription to Family Tree magazine

10. Winner Selection: The Promoter will shortlist three of the best entries and add them to this page as a poll from 10 am BST on Monday 8 August until 3 pm BST on Thursday 11 August. Visitors to the page will be able to vote for the most deserving entry during that period.

11. Winner Notification: The winner of the vote will be announced on a live broadcast on The Promoter’s Facebook page at 4 pm BST on Friday 12 August and the entrant will be contacted by email via the account provided at point of entry within seven days of the closing date and will have 14 days from notification to claim the prize on behalf of the winning nominee following the instructions in the email. If a winner does not claim their prize within this timeframe the promoter reserves the right to withdraw prize entitlement and will award the prize to the entry with the second-highest number of votes in the poll. Please allow 30 days for delivery.

12. It is the responsibility of the entrant to provide correct, up-to-date details when entering the prize promotion and acceptance of the prize. The Promoter cannot be held responsible for winners failing to supply accurate information which affects prize acceptance or delivery of their prize.

13. General: The promoter’s decision is final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into. Entry implies acceptance of these terms and conditions.

14. Prizes must be accepted as offered by the named winner. There is no cash or alternative prizes, in whole or part. The prizes are not transferable and cannot be resold.

15. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should circumstances outside its control make this necessary.

16. The Promoter reserves the right to verify winners and ask for proof of identity, age and address and to withdraw prize entitlement where there are reasonable grounds to believe there has been a breach of these terms and conditions.

17. Winners will take part in and co-operate fully with reasonable publicity and to the use of your name, photograph and any comments in such publicity without any fee being payable. If you do not wish for your personal information to be used in this way, please contact the Promoter at community@findmypast.com.

18. By entering the Promotion, each entrant grants the Promoter a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free and sub-licensable right and licence to use reproduce, modify, adapt, publish or display (in whole or in part) any intellectual property contained in the content of their entry, without royalty, payment or other compensation. Each Entrant agrees not to assert any moral rights in relation to such use and warrants that they have full authority to grant such rights.

19. The surname and county of the winner can be obtained by sending an email, 28 days after the prize promotion closing date, to community@findmypast.com. If you object to any or all of your surname, county and winning entry being published or made available, please contact the Promoter at community@findmypast.com. In such circumstances, the Promoter must still provide the information and winning entry to the Advertising Standards Authority on request.

20. The Promoter reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to eliminate or disqualify any entries or entrants that it regards as being in breach of these terms and conditions or the spirit of the Promotion. Those who try to circumvent the entry process and/or entry instructions by any method will be disqualified and any prize award will be void.

21. Entry into the Promotion is at the entrant’s sole risk. To the extent permitted by law, neither the Promoter nor Supplier accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury, costs, expenses or claims (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) suffered by entrants or any third parties arising out of or in connection with the Promotion and/or accepting a prize. The Promoter and Supplier further disclaim liability for any injury or damage to entrants or any other person relating to or resulting from participation with this Promotion save that nothing in these terms and conditions shall act to limit or exclude the Promoter and Supplier’s liability resulting from its negligence or fraud.

22. If for any reason, the Promotion is not capable of running as planned for reasons (including but not limited to tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of the Promoter which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Promotion), the Promoter reserves the right (subject to any written directions given under applicable law) to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Promotion.

23. If an act, omission, event or circumstance occurs which are beyond the reasonable control of the Promoter and which prevents the Promoter from complying with these terms and conditions the Promoter will not be liable for any failure to perform or delay in performing its obligation.

24. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for system errors or other issues that may result in disruption to, lost, delayed or not received entries, winner notifications or prizes. The Promoter, the Supplier or its agencies will not be responsible for the non-inclusion of entries as a result of technical failures or otherwise, including any such failure which is within the control of The Promoter or its agencies.

25. Where a prize is provided by a Supplier, the Promoter accepts no responsibility for the inaccuracy of any prize description, and The Supplier is responsible for prize fulfilment.

26. If any of these clauses should be determined to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable then it shall be severed and deleted from these Terms and Conditions and the remaining clauses shall survive and remain in full force and effect.

27. The Promoter and the Supplier reserve the right to cancel, amend, withdraw, terminate or temporarily suspend this promotion in the event of any unforeseen circumstances or technical reason outside its reasonable control, with no liability to any entrants or third parties but will use all reasonable endeavours to avoid consumer disappointment.

28. The Promotion and these terms and conditions, and any disputes arising therefrom, shall be subject to English law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English and Welsh Courts.

29. Data Protection: Any personal information that entrants share with the Promoter will be kept secure and only used in line with these terms and conditions unless the entrant has opted in to future marketing from the Promoter and/or the Supplier. Unless otherwise notified to the Promoter in accordance with clause 19, by entering the promotion, entrants agree that their information may be used by the Promoter to administer the promotion and winners consent to giving their names for the winners’ list.

31. Promoter’s Privacy Policy: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/content/privacy-policy