Chairman?s Community Awards 2014/15 open for nominations

The Chairman of Bath & North East Somerset Council (BNESC), Councillor Martin Veal has launched his Community Awards and is planning a Special Award for one of the nominations received.

The awards aim to recognise volunteers, community leaders, community organisations and local businesses who work tirelessly in the local community to make a positive difference. The Awards highlight the contributions of local people, their efforts to involve others and impact made on their communities.

The Awards are organised every year in conjunction with the Volunteer Centre, Bath and North East Somerset, social housing provider CURO, and the Student Community Partnership. In 2013 there were 114 nominations.

Cllr Martin Veal, Council Chairman, said: “I am delighted to be hosting the Community Awards this year, along with our partners the Volunteer Centre, Curo and the Student Community Partnership. It is important that we recognise the contributions made by such fantastic people who work tirelessly for the benefit of others. I hope as many people can take the time to nominate for an award as possible.”

Cllr Paul Crossley (Lib Dem, Southdown), Leader of the Council and Chair of the Student Community Partnership, said: “Young people’s efforts are often overlooked and it is important that we have the opportunity to recognise the contribution they make in the local community.”

Vanessa Collier, CURO’s Community Engagement Manager, said: “Many of our tenants are key volunteer leaders who play an important role in their local community every day.  We are hoping to see lots of nominations arriving from CURO residents, and we are delighted to be able to support the awards again this year.”

Mike Plows, Manager of the Volunteer Centre Bath & North East Somerset, said: “We are honoured once again to be a partner for these awards which allow everyone to recognise and celebrate the fantastic voluntary contribution of both teams and individuals in our communities. We are keen increase the nominations for local businesses who often work behind the scenes for their local community without any recognition.”

The award categories are as follows:

Category 1 – Volunteering Awards

• Volunteer of the Year / Young Volunteer of the Year
• Volunteer Leader of the Year / Young Volunteer Leader of the Year
• Volunteer Team or Organisation of the Year/ Young Volunteer Team or Organisation of the Year
• Good Neighbour of the Year / Neighbourhood Team of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement

Category 2 – Business in the Community Award

• This Award will recognise a socially responsible business which actively supports its local community in positive activities. 

The Award categories are different to ones from previous years. The central change is that the Education Award will take place as a separate award rather than as part of the Community Awards.

The Chairman will also be presenting a ‘Special Award’ to an individual who has improved the lives of those around them through voluntary efforts in the local community, a neighbourhood, church or local organisation. The Chairman will pick a winner of this award from all the nominations that have been received. 

How to nominate:

Full details about the nomination criteria or organisations, and forms for nominating are available from the Council:

• Online
• By email to: [email protected]
• In writing to: Sara Banks, Policy & Partnerships, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JG.