Craven District Council are proud to launch the eighth annual Craven Community Champions Awards – honouring the district’s heroes and celebrating their incredible achievements.

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for their community? An individual who puts their time into volunteering, or a community group which really makes a difference? This is your chance to thank them for all their hard work.

The awards are split into seven categories, to celebrate those who have made an outstanding contribution to Arts and Culture, Sport and Recreation, Health and Wellbeing, and creating a Greener Craven. There are awards for Young Citizen of the Year, Best Community Group and Volunteer of the Year – and one person will be chosen by a panel of judges as Citizen of the Year.

Each award has been sponsored by a local business, including Alexander’s, Broughton Hall, Angus Fire, Keelham Farm Shop, The Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa, Smart Solutions, Melvin & Co Skipton, and Yorkshire Housing. The awards are also supported by the Craven Herald.

For the first time this year, Holt Doctors is the associate sponsor for the awards. Francesca Salvini, Head of Marketing at Holt Doctors, said: “Holt Doctors are incredibly proud to be a part of this year’s Community Champions Awards – awards like these open our eyes to the sheer amount of good we have within our community.

“They bring us together and spark up a collaboration which everybody can get involved in. We’re excited to see which individuals are put forward and credited for their hard work and dedication this year and we wish you all the best of luck.”

Councillor Paul Whitaker, Chairman of Craven District Council, said: “The Community Champions Awards are a real highlight of the year and we’re delighted to be launching them once again in 2019.

“This is a fantastic occasion and allows us all to celebrate the inspiring people within our communities who go above and beyond, to help make Craven such a great place to live.

“I’m sure we all know somebody who does amazing things to help others and improve their community, whether it’s in the field of sport, arts, health, or the environment. You might know someone who volunteers for a huge range of organisations, or a young person who dedicates their time and effort for others. 

“So I would urge our residents - please have a think about who you might know that makes a real difference, and help us recognise and celebrate their work.

“We are hugely grateful to our generous sponsors for their continued support – without them, the Craven Community Champions Awards would not be possible.”

The winners will be announced on February 6, 2019, at the Awards Ceremony, to be hosted by the Coniston Hotel and Country Estate at Coniston Cold, near Skipton. Everyone who has been shortlisted to receive an award will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony.

Nominations will close on November 10, 2019. Nomination forms are available from the Council website from Thursday September 19: www.cravendc.gov.uk/communitychampions

Award Categories

Holt Doctors is the associate sponsor for the awards.

This year the seven awards open for nomination are:

Arts and Culture Award (Sponsored by Alexander’s Bar & Kitchen): An individual or group that has made a contribution to arts, heritage and culture in their community or the district in general.

Best Community Group Award (Sponsored by Keelham Farm Shop): A voluntary group that has made a significant contribution to their community or the district in general.  

Sport and Recreation Award (Sponsored by Melvin & Co Skipton): An individual or group that has made a contribution to amateur sport, play or physical activity in their community or the district in general.

Volunteer of the Year Award (Sponsored by Angus Fire): An individual who has made an outstanding contribution through volunteering during 2014.

Young Citizen of the Year Award (Sponsored by The Coniston Hotel Country Estate & Spa): A young person (aged 11 to 25) who has made a positive contribution to their peers, their school or college or a community in general.

Health and Wellbeing Award (Sponsored by The Broughton Hall Estate): An individual or group that has made a contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of local people by providing support to vulnerable people, setting up projects to improve local community spirit or helping people to live healthier lives.

Greener Craven Award (Sponsored by Smart Solutions): An individual or group that has made a contribution to enhancing the local environment.

In addition, the following award is also up for grabs but the winners will be chosen by the judging panel or award sponsor and is therefore not open for public nomination.

Citizen of the Year Award (sponsored by Yorkshire Housing): This award will be given to a citizen in recognition of his or her outstanding contributions directly to Craven during the past year; all nominations will be automatically entered into this category.

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.cravendc.gov.uk/communitychampions