People in North Yorkshire have a chance to honour volunteers who make a real difference in their community and to nominate their unsung heroes for an award.
Community organisations and individual volunteers make a huge contribution to improving lives – and nominations are now open for North Yorkshire County Council’s community awards.
Following two years of postponements due to Covid-19, the awards are back for their sixth year.
They aim to highlight the incredible work taking place across North Yorkshire in helping the county council deliver critical services and providing social networks which reduce isolation and enable people to live independently for longer.
The three categories are:
- Best community group – awarded to groups carrying out voluntary activity/activities in North Yorkshire.
- Volunteer of the year – awarded to individual volunteers carrying out voluntary activity/activities in North Yorkshire.
- Making a difference – helping rural communities to flourish – awarded to individuals or groups who have through their voluntary activity/activities made a real difference to a rural area/rural areas of North Yorkshire. This award recognises unique, innovative, enterprising or resilient approaches to overcoming rural issues, challenges or disadvantage that have impacted on people, communities and/or the environment.
“The community awards honour the remarkable work of local volunteers who are committed to improving lives across North Yorkshire” said Marie-Ann Jackson, head of the stronger communities programme.
“The last two years have been challenging in so many ways and we have all had to pull together to get through the effects of a pandemic. The awards this year will really highlight what has been happening and are more important than ever before.
“If you think someone you know deserves some recognition, I urge you to nominate them. Let’s show our appreciation for more unsung heroes.”
The winners of the 2018 best community group was Exclusively Inclusive, a voluntary group who organise social events to help people overcome isolation within the Skipton area.
Group organiser Katie Peacock said: “It felt amazing to be part of a group of people who had been nominated for their contributions to their communities. There was such a buzz of excitement, accomplishment and celebration as well as an overriding desire to continue and develop our community work.”
The closing date for nominations is May 6, 2022. Nomination forms can be completed online at www.northyorks.gov.uk/communityawards.
Finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony at the North Yorkshire Wider Partnership Conference at the Pavilions of Harrogate, North Yorkshire Showground on the morning of September 30, 2022.
The winner of each category will receive £1,000 for the project, group or nominated relevant local charity in the case of the volunteer awards.
Two runners-up in each category will receive £250.
To read further information on the terms and conditions and eligibility criteria please visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/communityawards
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