The Awards

This award provides recognition to a group or community that has worked for the benefit of the community. We are looking for a group or community which has made a real and positive difference by:

• Empowering the community to make their own decisions and changes to make their community a better place to live
• Strengthening the community to become more joined up and stronger
• Encouraging all members of a community to participate and make a real and lasting difference

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter the Community Action Suffolk Colonel Probert Award the following eligibility criteria apply:

1. The voluntary or community group is based in Suffolk
2. The benefitting community is in Suffolk

A group or community are able to nominate themselves

Prize

The winner receives a certificate, a trophy, and a £50 cash prize

This award recognises an unsung individual who has worked, often unseen, for the benefit of the community. This could be an individual who has:

• Made a real and positive impact on the community
• Gone above and beyond their role for the benefit of the community
• Inspired and motivated others

Examples could include successful fundraising for a community project or taking on a lead role in a substantial community project.

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter the Community Action Suffolk Ian Campbell MBE Award the following eligibility criteria apply:-

1. The individual is based in Suffolk
2. The benefitting community is in Suffolk

Prize

The winner receives a certificate and The Campbell Cup

This award provides recognition of the positive contribution made to a community by its Village Hall or Community Building that is:

• At the heart of its community
• Providing a vital service accessible to all members of the community
• Having a positive impact on the lives of the people living in that community

A community building doesn’t just have to be a community centre. It could be anything that is there for the whole community which really adds value to people’s lives. Examples include pubs, schools, libraries, cafes, and adapted ex-phone boxes!

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter the Community Action Suffolk Village Hall & Community Building Award, the following eligibility criteria apply:

1. The voluntary or community group is based in Suffolk
2. The benefitting community is in Suffolk

A group or community are able to nominate themselves

Prize

Winner receives a certificate and £100 cash prize.

Award sponsored by Community Action Suffolk Insurance/VHPG

This award recognises youth participation, where children and young people aged 11 to 19 (or up to 25 with disabilities/additional needs) were actively engaged in the set up and running of a project or venture.

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter the Community Action Suffolk Anne Dunford OBE Award the following eligibility criteria apply:

• A group of children or young people (minimum of two) aged 11 to 19 (or up to 25 with disabilities/additional needs) were actively engaged in the set up and running of the project or venture
• This participative work is to have been carried out in the past 12 months
• The voluntary or community group running the project or venture is based in Suffolk

A group is able to nominate themselves

Prize

The winner receives a certificate, trophy and cash prize of £250

This award is for the Young Person of the Year and recognises the significant contribution(s) to the community of an individual young person (aged 11 to 19) in Suffolk.

This is a special award that one young person will receive each year, owing to the generosity of Mr & Mrs Towers and the Monks Eleigh Youth Club. The award is in memory of their son, the late Andrew Towers, who was a key member of the Monks Eleigh Youth Club.

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter the Community Action Suffolk Andrew Towers Award the following eligibility criteria apply:

1. An individual young person (aged 11 to 19)
2. The young person has volunteered their time and skills to make a positive contribution to their club, group, school, local project or community
3. The young person must be from Suffolk
4. The people or communities who have benefited from the young person’s contributions must be based in Suffolk

Prize

The winner receives a certificate, trophy and cash prize of £50

Award sponsored by Community Action Suffolk Insurance/VHPG

This award recognises the Suffolk Youth Club of the Year. The Youth Club or group for children and young people (aged 11 to 18 years old), must be “small but exceptional” and made a difference to its community.

Roddy Macleod was an enthusiastic member of the Suffolk Association of Boys Clubs, who sadly passed away in 1989 and this award honours his memory. Every year a fantastic trophy (created by Mark Coreth) and a cash prize is presented to the winner.

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter the Community Action Suffolk Roddy Macleod Award the following eligibility criteria apply:

• The youth club or group is for children and young people (aged 11 to 18 years old)
• Is a voluntary or community group
• The youth club or group is based in Suffolk

A club is able to nominate themselves

Prize

The winner receives a certificate, trophy and cash prize of £250

This award is for the organiser(s) of an event which uses volunteers and provides an exceptional volunteer experience

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Event Organiser of the Year, the following criteria apply:

1. The event took place in Suffolk in the last 12 months
2. The event organiser(s) is based in Suffolk
3. Volunteers were an integral part of the running of the event

An event is able to niminate themselves

Prize

The winner receives a certificate and trophy

This award is for an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the community, for example:

• made a marked difference to someone’s life
• consistently delivered outstanding service
• made a difference working together in the community, treating everyone with fairness and respect

 Eligibility

To be eligible for Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering award, the following criteria apply, the volunteer:

• needs to be resident and volunteer in Suffolk
• can be of any age, and have volunteered for any amount of time
• needs to be nominated by any organisation that involves volunteers, or by employers who support staff to volunteer

Prize

The winner receives a certificate, trophy and cash prize of £50

Categories

• Small Village (under 1,000 population)
• Large Village
• Town

Whether it is football, dog-walking, yoga, hockey or Zumba; we are greatly interested in hearing about these activities and celebrating them as part of Suffolk’s ambitions to become England’s most active county.

Please describe any activities that you have taken part in or have been provided in your community in the last 12 months to encourage people of all ages and abilities to become and stay active. Please feel free to use the following prompts, but do not feel you have to be restricted by them.

A town or village is able to nominate themselves

Prize

The winners receive an engraved brass plaque

Categories

• Small Village (under 1,000 population)
• Large Village
• Town

What makes your town or village a great place to live?

Do you live in a vibrant, enterprising and caring community that caters for all residents and has made the most of local opportunities? 

If you do, then these awards are a fantastic opportunity for your town or village to showcase how they have made a positive difference to people that live in their area.   Judges will not only look at the important parts of town and village life such as community spirit and activities, but also large and small projects that have solved local needs.  This can include the development of community assets through to good neighbour schemes, local transport initiatives or activities that address health and wellbeing for both young and old.  Future plans will also be taken into account as well as recent achievements and the ability to demonstrate effective engagement with all groups and residents through a website, social media or local newsletters.

A town or village is able to nominate themselves

Prize

The winners receive an engraved brass plaque

Is your neighbour one in a million?
Do they make a difference to your life or the lives of the people in your community?

This award is a chance for you to say thank you to a neighbour or group of neighbours who go out of their way to help others, someone who shows kindness, compassion and consideration.

This could be because they have:

• Helped you out at a time of crises or are a good neighbour all the time
• Gone out of their way to keep the area they live in looking clean and tidy
• Brings happiness and joy to your community making it a nicer place to live

Examples could include volunteers as part of a local Good Neighbour Scheme or anyone that is living in your community making a difference.

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter the Community Action Suffolk Good Neighbour Award the following eligibility criteria apply:

• Resident in Suffolk
• The benefitting community or person is in Suffolk

Prize

Winner receives a certificate, trophy and cash prize of £50