Ann’s generosity brings national acclaim

Updated: 21 May 2025

The 2025 Making a Difference Award winner in the Giving Something Back category is Ann Kight, a Nottingham Trent Oddfellows member. Well deserved, Ann!

Ann, from Nottingham, was presented with her trophy on Tuesday 20 May during a special ceremony at the Society’s national Annual Moveable Conference in Scarborough.

She was chosen due to her selfless commitment to raising money for worthy causes, both in connection with her Branch and of her own accord.

Ann with her Making a Difference Award trophy at the Society's national conference in Scarborough

If there’s a bob to be earnt I’ll go and earn it Ann Kight

An Oddfellow for nearly 60 years, Ann has held many formal volunteer roles at her Branch, but it’s the organisation of events with the aim of raising as much money as possible for charity that’s seen her receive the award.

“I’ve done all sorts,” said Ann. “I don’t know why I do it. It’s just me. If there’s a bob to be earnt I go and earn it.

“I’ve been doing it about 10 years, if not more. I reckon I’ve raised around £10,000. 

“I’ve always had the motto of, ‘if you go through life and behave and you help somebody on your way you’ve done your job’.”

Always striving for more

Ann’s certainly stayed true to her motto, organising many events either at her home or a hired venue, including games, quizzes, tombolas and raffles, always accompanied by food she’s prepared.

She explained: “We started with garden parties in my back garden doing afternoon tea – a sandwich, a cup of tea and a piece cake for three quid. A raffle and tombola.

“The garden wasn’t big enough, so then I had to go to my local club. The first one I did, I didn’t know if it would actually work but we did bingo and last man standing and all those sort of games and raised £1,300 in three hours.

“I’ve raised money for pancreatic cancer, Blood Bikes, kids’ cancer care. I’ve done the Cinnamon Trust this year and I was a little disappointed because the club had closed down and I had to do it at a smaller venue but I made £780. I wanted £1,000!

“The more I get the better I feel. I had Blood Bikes come to collect the money I’d raised and while they were there we raised a bit more. I said, ‘come one, we might as well have a few games’, and made a bit more.

“It’s a good feeling when you help somebody. I’ve always had to work hard for my money so if I can make some for somebody else I will. It’s just how I feel. It’s in my nature.

Perhaps the key to Ann’s fundraising success is making sure attendees not only part with some cash, but also have fun. She added: “If you don’t come and have a laugh you’ve had it. You’ve got to be able to laugh.”

(L to R) Grand Master (Chairman) Barbara Needham presented Ann with her trophy

Surprise news

It’s fair to say that Ann wasn’t expecting to receive the news that she’d won the Giving Something Back Award.

“I burst into tears when I found out,” she recalled. “I’d just come back from shopping and I read this letter and I said, ‘oh it’s about this Giving Something Back Award’, and my husband, Terry, said, ‘well you ain’t won that then’, I said, ‘I bloody have!’

“To win it, it was a shock. You do things because you do them, not for awards. To get an award is a bonus.”

Karen Pye-Smith, Branch Secretary at Nottingham Trent Oddfellows said: “Ann is extremely kind and will always put herself out to organise fundraising events and she always prepares and delivers the food.

“She works tirelessly in all her volunteer roles at the Branch and has raised thousands of pounds for charity by organising outstanding events, which are always great fun.

“Congratulations, Ann. There’s no one more deserving of the Giving Something Back Award.”

On what she enjoys about the Oddfellows, Ann added: “It’s friendly enough, isn’t it? I’ve been a member now for 58 years. You’re meeting people, aren’t you? I like that. And people who come along that are a bit worried about it, you’ve got to be there to rally them on and have a joke with them to make them feel welcome.”

(L to R) Making a Difference Awards winners Chris Sargeant, Gordon Hinett and Ann Kight

Who makes a difference in your Branch?

If you know somebody in your Branch who has gone above and beyond to help and support members of the Oddfellows, why not nominate them for a 2026 Making a Difference Award?

Any member can nominate another member. You can learn more about the different categories in the Making a Difference Awards section of our website.

If you're interested in joining an Oddfellows friendship group, contact us and we can send you a free information pack and local events diary.