Organisers of the Community Awards are expecting a bumper crop of names to be put forward following heroics during lockdown, and nominations are open to submit.
Now in their fourth year, the Stafford Borough Council awards recognise the efforts of local people, businesses, schools and other groups that help to support and improve the community.
The categories are Community Action, Environmental Improvement, Social Wellbeing and Local Hero. And this year a new category has been added to the awards programme to recognise sporting achievements in the borough.
To find out more about the criteria for each category, and to nominate, go to www.staffordbc.gov.uk/communityawards. The closing date for nominations is Friday 23 October. The winners will be announced at a ‘virtual’ awards ceremony to be arranged in late November.
Last year’s winners included Stafford Litter Heroes, Rising Brook Baptist Church and young Imani Al-Khaldi, who set up a community fridge scheme. Nominations are open to all people, groups and organisations operating within the borough with projects that have been running during the last 12 months.
Councillor Jeremy Pert, Cabinet Member for Communities and Health, said: “This has been a year like no other for our generation. But in the face of adversity we have seen so many individuals, volunteers, groups and businesses stand up and be counted.
“They have looked after vulnerable neighbours, they have supplied important resources, they have set up support groups, food delivery operations or just made themselves available to anyone who needed help.
“I expect the heroics from our community during lockdown will see us with a huge number of nominations – and the most difficult task will be determining a winner, because they are all deserving of our heartfelt thanks, recognition and respect.”
He added: “It was a tremendous event last year and I was honoured to be among so many inspirational people and hear about all the selfless work they were doing for the benefit of others.
“The work they do often goes unnoticed, so these awards give us the opportunity to pay tribute to them and demonstrate that we value all that they do.”
More information from www.staffordbc.gov.uk/communityawards
