25 Sep Nominate your community’s heroes

All hail the volunteers! Each of you deserves our thanks and praise.

Volunteers do not get thanked enough; perhaps that is not possible, but we are doing what we can with the inaugural Torbay Community Champion Awards, which will take place in October.

Nominations have opened and we have already received more than 100 from people who want to make sure their favourite volunteer’s name goes up in lights.

There can only be one winner in each category (as well as an overall winner)  but just to be nominated in these prestigious awards is praise indeed. Do you know someone who deserves such an accolade? If you do, then go to the awards form online at https://bit.ly/TorbayCommunityChampion and our judges from across the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) will do the rest.

We want to hear from you about people who have gone above and beyond in the VCSE sector and we are including workers alongside volunteers because the world would be a poorer place without them.

The categories and what we are looking for are detailed below:

Health and wellbeing champion
A worker in the voluntary, community or social enterprise sector committed to improving the health and well-being of people in Torbay, including those who provide support for people with additional needs or disabilities, support an organisation that advocates for those with certain illnesses or conditions, provide activities for people with disabilities or long-term illnesses, or accompanies patients to the hospital.

Volunteer of the Year
A volunteer who has shown commitment, passion and care for their volunteering and made a significant difference to their volunteer cause and the community at large.

Young volunteer of the year
A young person who has shown a real commitment to volunteering and/or overcoming serious problems and made a positive difference in their own life or other peoples’.  It will celebrate the work carried out by young people who give up their time to help their community; in school, at youth clubs or a voluntary organisation.

Climate and environment champion~A worker in the voluntary, community or social enterprise sector who dedicates their time to caring for their local environment, takes part in environmental protection projects, champions a sustainability programme, or takes part in any other volunteer activity that supports the environment

Volunteering team
This award is given to a group of three or more volunteers who have made a real difference to their community or an organisation.

Lifetime award
This award is for someone who has worked within their community for many years and recognises their long-standing dedication to improving the quality of life in Torbay.

Good neighbour award
A resident who strives to make sure there is a place for everyone in their local community and is devoted to helping those who live around them.

Carer of the year
Awarded to someone who improves the life of an individual or group of people through their helpfulness, compassion and support.

Emergency worker of the year
A worker in the voluntary, community or social enterprise sector who strives to keep their communities safe by providing emergency services, safety awareness and training or is involved in an activity that enhances safety or protects their communities in emergencies.

Community champion
A worker in the voluntary, community or social enterprise sector who has shown commitment, passion and care for their volunteering or work and made a significant difference to their cause and the community at large.

(NB. Not seeking nominations. The winner will be selected from all categories).

Volunteers and workers in the VCSE sector make the world go around. So many organisations, from sports clubs to support groups, from coffee mornings to full-scale events, like the English Riviera Airshow, would struggle to exist without them.

This is our big chance to recognise each and every one of them, whether they are front of house or beavering away in the background. Our worlds would be all the poorer without them, and whilst they do not do it for adulation, and they certainly don’t do it for remuneration,  it is up to us to show our appreciation.

So don’t delay, get nominating today: https://bit.ly/TorbayCommunityChampion

And finally, if you want to sponsor one of the awards as your way of saying thank you, please drop me an email: [email protected] or call me on 07715 770303. I look forward to hearing from you.