The winners of awards to recognise people who have made a positive contribution to their communities in Bath and North East Somerset have been revealed.

Twelve individuals and organisations were presented with a Community Award at a special ceremony at Henrietta Park in Bath on Tuesday, 22nd November.

The award includes seven blossom trees being planted for the winners that will help extend the green canopy across the district.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Community Awards 2022/23 champion ‘unsung heroes’ who make a difference in their communities and support others.

The cherry trees were planted at Henrietta Park, which as they mature will host an impressive spring blossom display each year to enhance the site and provide a permanent central location to mark the winners’ outstanding achievements.

A total of 60 nominations in seven categories were received for the awards, which this year included two new categories for town and parish councillors of the year.

Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall, Chair of the Council, who presented the awards, said: “It’s inspiring to hear about the contribution all the nominees have made to their communities and there have been some striking tales of people who go above and beyond to support others. I’m delighted that this year there will be a lasting tribute to the winners in the form of these beautiful blossom trees, which not only mark their achievements but also contribute to tackling the climate emergency. Congratulations to the twelve winners and thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate your local hero.”

The winners are:

The Beryl Dixon Community Leader of the Year:

Winner – Penny McKissock, Southside Family Project

Volunteer of the Year:

Joint Winner – David Musgrave, Oasis Pantry

Joint Winner – John Harvey, Mentoring Plus

Joint Winner – Kathleen Still, Age UK B&NES

Volunteer Team of the Year Winner – Bravo Medics Volunteer Critical Care Consultants

Young Volunteer Team of the Year

Winner - Students’ Union Nightline - Kashiv Mishra

Charity of the Year Winner – Youth Connect South West

Green Business Leader Winner - The Community Farm

Chairs Special Recognition Award for Service to the Community Winner – SWALLOW

Swallow Charity has been operating a café in St Nicholas Church Centre in Radstock since 2011 and has been expanding its activities from its offices in Westfield.

SWALLOW charity are a non-profit organisation, set up for teenagers and adults with learning disabilities.They currently have over 150 teenagers and young adults in our area.

The charity is a combination of paid professionals, volunteers and the Swallows trainee clients who mainly have autism or Downs syndrome or other learning difficulties.

Swallow makes a difference to individuals by allowing them to become as independent as they want to by giving them jobs in a café to setting up homes. The success has been huge, and the young adults grow in self-confidence and self-esteem by learning social skills, cooking skills, day to day living tasks, or to are enabled to get out and about in the community.

Outstanding Young Person Winner – Will Lakey

The Peter Duppa-Miller Award for Town Councillor of the Year Winner – Councillor Steve Plumley, Midsomer Norton.

Steve Plumley deserves recognition because he is one of those people who works quietly and unassumingly behind the scenes across dozens of community groups in Midsomer Norton. He shares his wealth of knowledge, links people and ideas and in short oils the wheels so that the community can achieve great things - and he’s been doing it for decades in a quiet and unassuming way giving thousands of hours of his time.

Steve grew up in Midsomer Norton and Radstock and so he knows everyone. He was a Councillor on the old Norton Radstock Town Council and was instrumental in building bridges when the new Midsomer Norton Town Council was created in 2011 and has served on it ever since.

He also works tirelessly for local residents – one example is how he worked with B&NES to get kerbs lowered and barriers moved to improve access for the disabled. There are now more areas in the Town residents in wheelchairs can access.

Whatever the project, Steve brings people together he’s a Midsomer Norton Treasure.

The Peter Duppa-Miller Award for Parish Councillor of the Year Winner – Councillor Robert Helland, South Stoke.

The Community Awards are organised by the council in partnership with: