West of England Housing Association Curo has announced the winners of its 2021 Community Awards and Curo in Bloom Awards, with communities and individuals across the region celebrated for the impact they have had on local people’s lives and for brightening up their neighbourhoods.

The Curo Community Awards included Curo Community of the Year, won by Snow Hill in Bath, and the Community Hero Award which was presented to two residents, Zoe Cornick, from Writhlington (pictured) and Sam Oliphant from Chew Magna.

Curo in Bloom Award winners included a ‘fairy garden’ in Moorfields, Bath, a giant sunflower in Melksham, a stunning large garden created by a father and son team in Nailsea, and a community garden run by residents at Julian Road in Bath.

The winners were announced by Curo Chief Executive Victor da Cunha at the housing association’s annual Residents’ Conference. Victor said: “There have been so many local heroes throughout this pandemic, and our homes, gardens and communities have mattered more than ever.

“These awards shine a spotlight on those special people who have done amazing things where they live, or have helped to brighten up their neighbourhoods through their gardening creations or their generous community focused activity more generally.”

Community Hero Award winner Sam Oliphant set up ‘Chew Chat’, a messaging group for her community which was used to organise shopping during lockdown.

Joint Community Hero Award Zoe Cornick started a local community foodbank, which she organised herself and runs out of her shed. Zoe also organised a Writhlington Fun Day to help bring her community together.

The annual Curo in Bloom competition recognises the best gardens and displays created by Curo residents.

This a popular award scheme that every Curo resident can enter, with categories for large and small gardens, hanging baskets, window displays, community gardens, vegetable gardens and sunflowers.

Winner of Best Vegetable/Sensory Garden, Amy of Moorfields, Bath said: “We grow runner beans, strawberries, peas, green beans, raspberries and sunflowers. It’s my daughter’s fairy garden!”

Curo in Bloom winners each received a £50 voucher and trophy. Curo Community Award winners received a trophy, with the Community of the Year receiving £500 and the Community Heroes receiving £100 each.

Curo announced the competition winners during its annual Residents’ Conference, part of an interactive week-long Residents’ Festival programme of events for their customers held digitally and at venues across the region.