Community Awards
Community Interest Luton
Luton & Bedfordshire Community Awards
The Luton & Bedfordshire Community Awards is an annual ceremony, celebrating the unsung heroes of our diverse and multicultural community and applauding those that that seek to make the lives of others, easier, happier and more fulfilled.
Celebrating Community Heroes
Now in its 15th year, the event continues to garner substantial support from the local populace.
This year’s ceremony will take place on Friday, 8th November 2024. The deadline for nominations is Sunday, 25th August 2024, at midnight. This is an opportunity to recognize and honor those who make a difference.
Supporting Charities and Community Engagement
The event also provides an excellent platform for organizations to give back to the community while gaining valuable exposure through cost-effective marketing packages. For more information on how your organization can participate in the 15th Annual Awards, please contact [email protected].
Community Interest Luton
Sponsor an Award
For businesses and organisations within Luton & Bedfordshire, supporting the Community Awards is a great way of supporting the local community and has instant tangible benefits noticeable for those involved.
Supporting Local Communities
For businesses and organizations within Luton & Bedfordshire, supporting the Community Awards offers a fantastic way to give back to the local community. Participation in the Awards provides instant, tangible benefits and is a noticeable gesture of community involvement. In a challenging economic climate, past sponsors have gained significant exposure and increased customer awareness through the Awards’ extensive marketing and promotional channels
Sponsorship Opportunities
We invite organizations to sponsor one of our exceptional award categories and join a prestigious group of local, reputable firms involved in the Community Awards. We offer a range of sponsorship and package deals, providing an excellent opportunity to support the community while enjoying substantial exposure. To learn more about how your organization can participate in the 15th Annual Awards, please contact [email protected] to receive a sponsorship brochure.
Community Interest Luton
Award Categories
CHANELLE PICKFORD AWARD
Judges will seek to recognise any young person under 18 who has overcome a personal difficulty or made a stand to improve their life or the lives of others. For example young people coping with bereavement, bullying, disability or medical problems, or someone who has organised support for others who face such problems.
COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR
The judges are looking for a project that has triumphed in the community. Supporting local people whether on a one-to-one basis or as a group – maybe a community centre with projects that have had long-lasting impact on the community. All the better if they have managed on a shoe-string or achieved results despite facing challenges
THE CHARITY CHAMPION
The award will go to the group or indiicusla who has done the most for charity this year. Perhaps you know an outstanding charity volunteer, a tireless fundraiser, or someone who deserves the award for charity work over a long period? They are almost certainly an expectional person who devotes significant time and enegery to support the causes close to their heart. Whether they are someone who has many years of fundraising under their belt or they have just started and are already making waves we want to hear about it.
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This award will be given to the person who has made an outstanding difference to their life, community, family, school or organisation. It could be through years of dedicated service or perhaps they have made of themseves an overnight success. If they did it against all the odds, they could be our winner!
THE MARK WEST DIVERSITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION AWARD
Judges will be looking for the person, group or business that has done the most to work in harmony with others to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion with the aim to positively discourage discrimination. Of particular interest are initiatives around networking and mutual support between local projects and business where the benefits are for the whole town, crossing community lines and involving people from all backgrounds and sectors.
HELPING HAND AWARD
Is your neighbour one in a million? is the person living down the street from you a true gem? We're looking for those ordinary people we know are on every street who you simply wouldn't manage without. We want to hear about them!
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
This person will be a true inspiration. They are likely to be highly succesful in their chosen field and will have made a valuable contribution to the success, expansion or improvement of the business in which they work. Nominations will be accepted from both individuals who are an employee, an employer or self-employed - it is their business acumen and the respect they have garnered from those working with or for them, that will earn them a nomination.
HEALTHCARE HERO
Doctors and nurses: professionals dedicated to helping those in need. People whose profession is to care for but who have shown unparalleled commitment to their work. Who have shouldered their heavy responsibility with spirit, good humour and devotion. Who do you know who has helped make the lives of others a little easier, who has provided care above and beyond?
THE ARTS AWARD
This award will celebrate and formally recognise the creative talent, skills and abilities of an exceptional person in Luton, Bedfordshire. They may be performing on stage, singing, dancing, playing an instrument, acting, or maybe they are exhibiting their art, sculpture or publishing their digital music/mixes. Alternatively, they may have developed amazing graphic design, fashion, textiles, furniture or craft. We are looking for exceptional arts and creative talent in an individual so that this award can help them step up and succeed in creative career services.
SERVICE WITH A SMILE
Do you know someone, or a group or company, who provides outstanding service way above what might be expected? Then this award is for them. Tell us how they operate, and what it is about their service that is so outstanding and makes them way above average for customer care.
COMMUNITY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
The judges will want to hear about commercial organisations which provide added value to the communities they serve. Do they support a local charity in some way, sponsor a football team, never fail to show up at community events? Don’t forget companies that have high standards when it comes to reducing their environmental impact, or who promote the green agenda to customers and the community.
ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Tell the judges about someone who strives to achieve their best at work, in their studies, in sport or in their community. We especially welcome nominations for people who do their very best despite having to overcome difficulties.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This award is especially for anyone who has worked tirelessly and constantly for the benefit of others for 20 years or more. It could be a volunteer, fundraiser, community leader, charity supporter or business person. What matters is they have devoted a significant number of years to the activity and you feel they deserve special recognition for their efforts.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Our winner will be someone who selflessly devotes themselves to a cause. It doesn't have to be normal volunteering, although it could be. Perhaps our volunteer champion runs a kids football team, organises neighbourhood watch, is a hospital visit or on the board of school governance? Please enter them in this category if they provide an invaluable, unpaid service to the community.
EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
Do you know a teacher or parent who has really stepped up to help educate young people? This can be through formal or informal learning, school based or home schooling. The judges will be looking for someone who has supported young people to overcome educational challenges. Judges would be particularly pleased to hear directly from young people.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
This award recognises a group whose actions, empathy, unstinting support or supreme effort has been of significant help to someone or a number of people in their community. We know that there have been many people out there helping others... who has stepped out and stood out as your community heroes?
THE CARING HERO
Throughout our community are vast numbers of carers – both paid and unpaid – and foster parents who have helped to protect and look after, often very vulnerable, people. The huge rise in living costs is impacting even more lives and will continue to do so.. Who do you know who has helped make the lives of others a little easier, who has provided care above and beyond? Who has given up their time to help a relative in need?
THE HERITAGE AWARD
This year, Luton Community Awards welcomes a new heritage award category. Heritage means different things to different people; from our historic buildings and landscapes, to our cultures, memories and communities. This award celebrates the richness of heritage in Luton and Bedfordshire through the people and groups who deliver fantastic heritage projects for the benefit of local communities. If you know or have been involved in a heritage project that you think deserves to be celebrated, then nominate your favourite.
MAYORS AWARD
This one's for ordinary people making an extra ordinary difference to the lives of others. it could be someone who helps the vulnerable or disadvantaged, a charity volunteer or a tireless fundraiser.
