The Community Volunteer Awards, a partnership between Community CVS and Blackburn with Darwen Council, has announced its shortlist of 63 nominees across 12 categories. This year’s awards received a record-breaking 1,000 nominations, 300 more than last year, showcasing the incredible dedication and hard work of volunteers in the community.
The awards aim to celebrate the heroic work and achievements of volunteers who make a positive impact in the lives of others. The categories include Volunteer of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Young People’s Award, Grassroots Award, Good Neighbour Award, and Environment Award, among others.
The judging panel, comprising sponsors, had a challenging task in selecting the shortlist from the numerous worthy nominations. The panel was impressed by the diversity and quality of the nominations, which highlighted the incredible contributions made by individuals and groups across the borough.
The Community Volunteer Awards presentation evening will take place on Thursday, November 7, at King George’s Hall, where all the winners will be announced. The event is a celebration of the community spirit and a testament to the dedication and tireless work of volunteers who make a difference in the lives of others.
Garth Hodgkinson, CEO of Community CVS, expressed his delight at the record-breaking number of nominations. “We’re absolutely thrilled to have received so many wonderful nominations, thank you to every person who took the time to nominate an individual, group or business for an award,” he said. “Our judging panel had a tough time choosing the shortlist from such worthy nominations. We’re really looking forward to coming together with all our shortlisted nominees in King George’s Hall in November, to celebrate their hard work, determination, dedication and the contributions they all make to local life.”
Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, echoed Hodgkinson’s sentiments. “It is fantastic to see a record number of nominations in this year’s awards,” he said. “Blackburn with Darwen is, and always has been, a borough that rises to all challenges together, and this is especially true of our community spirit. The Community Volunteer Awards embody this and are a real testament to the dedication and tireless work of the people who volunteer day in, day out to help make our borough a better place.”
The shortlisted nominees are a testament to the incredible work being done by individuals and groups across the borough. From health and wellbeing initiatives to environmental projects, and from grassroots community groups to young people making a difference, the nominees showcase the diversity and breadth of community spirit in Blackburn with Darwen.
The nominees include Barbara Leyland, Sahil Usman, and Shaheen Elahi, who have all been shortlisted for the Health and Well Being Award – Individual category. The Health and Well Being Award – Group category has seen nominations from Shad Women’s Hub, Community 1st Responders, and Blackburn Foodbank, among others.
In the Prosperity, Learning & Employment Award – Individual category, Sandy Woods, Beverly Ormerod, and Fizza Zafal have been shortlisted, while Phoenix Hub, Neuro dyna-mix, and Phoenix Hub have been nominated in the Prosperity, Learning & Employment Award – Group category.
The Grass Roots Award – Individual category has seen nominations from Pamela Ward, Samantha Nye, and Vicky Kelly, while Roots Community, Respite Service Group, and Friends of Infirmary have been shortlisted in the Grass Roots Award – Group category.
The Young Peoples Award – Individual category has seen nominations from Fizza Zafar, Emma Evans, and Lucie Brown, while Children’s Storehouse, St Georges Mill Hill Scout Group, and Blackburn Youth Darts Academy have been shortlisted in the Young Peoples Award – Group category.
The Renee Black Award has seen nominations from Neuro Dyna-mix, Ahmed Leli, and Offload Northwest, while the Environment Award – Individual category has seen nominations from Angela Gatehouse, Betty Mossop, and Wayne Dixon. The Environment Award – Group category has seen nominations from Keep Blackburn Tidy, Little Potting Club, and Cherry Tree Library Community Apiary.
The Culture Leisure and Sporting Life – Individual category has seen nominations from Keith Brunt, Ellie Mai Fallon & Jack Watson, and Chris Walton, while Arts2Heal, Mill Hill Events Committee, and S.A.S Rights have been shortlisted in the Culture, Leisure and Sporting Life – Group category.
The Lindsay Dunn Award – Individual category has seen nominations from Muaaz Nadat, Sahil Usman, and Beverly Ormerod, while Voice, Offload Northwest, and Phoenix Hub have been shortlisted in the Lindsay Dunn Award – Group category.
The Community Involvement category has seen nominations from Phoenix Hub, Darwen Community Helpers CIC, and Children’s Storehouse, while the Good Neighbour Award has seen nominations from Beverly Ormerod, Charlotte Leaver, and Victoria Kelly.
The Volunteer of the Year category has seen nominations from Richard Croasdale, Keith Brunt, and Pat Foster, while the Lifetime Achievement category has seen nominations from Vera Green, Ian Hamer, and Judith Houghton.
The winners will be announced on November 7 at the Community Volunteer Awards presentation evening, which is a must-attend event for anyone who wants to be inspired by the incredible work being done by volunteers in the community.