The search for unsung heroes in Bath & North East Somerset has begun with the launch of the annual Community Awards to celebrate volunteers, charities, carers, community leaders, staff and businesses that make a positive contribution to the community.

Nominations for the Bath & North East Somerset Community Awards 2019/2020 have been opened by B&NES Council Leader, Dine Romero; Council Chair, Councillor Eleanor Jackson, and all Award Partners at a launch in the Guildhall in Bath.

The awards, including three new categories, will recognise inspiring people who make an exceptional contribution to our area. New for this year are awards for Charity of the Year, Foster Carer of the Year and Green Business of the Year. The Volunteer Leader of the Year Award has been renamed ‘The Beryl Dixon Community Leader of the Year Award’, in honour of Beryl Dixon, a well-respected advocate for the BME community who sadly died in 2017.

Councillor Dine Romero said: “The Community Awards are an important celebration of the people who are most dedicated to our community but their work often goes unrecognised. We encourage people to think about how their businesses, staff, volunteers or community leaders deserve this recognition and to nominate them via a simple process for the contributions they make. We would particularly like to encourage nominations for those who protecting and care for the most vulnerable people in our community and those who are helping us address the climate emergency.”

Councillor Eleanor Jackson said: “The more I immerse myself in the role of Chair of Council, the more I appreciate the role of businesses, community organisations and volunteers in serving the community and supporting the Council’s work. I am particularly struck by the number of workers and volunteers who go ‘above and beyond’ their duties and show special dedication and acts of kindness. For example, who can forget all the medical staff and community care workers who struggled through the snow this year to prevent the vulnerable from suffering?

“I am particularly pleased that there is a new award, the Beryl Dixon award, for those who regularly go the extra mile, unpaid, and too often unsung. We need lots of nominations so we can rectify this.”

The Community Awards are organised in partnership with B&NES CCG, CURO, Sirona Care and Health, B&NES Virgin Care, Student Community Partnership, Bath College and 3SG.

Residents, staff, councillors, businesses, organisations and groups, teachers, and volunteers from B&NES can nominate people and nomination forms must be returned by 20th December. People can nominate online or send a nomination form by email or post clearly marked ‘The Community Awards 2019/2020’.

Everyone nominated for an award will be presented with a certificate in recognition of their contribution and invited along to the Awards in the Assembly Rooms in Bath on 25th February 2020. To find out more about the categories or to nominate someone, visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/communityawards