The Awards are an excellent way to ‘put something back’ into the community whilst gaining a great level of exposure through our cost-effective marketing packages. If you are interested in finding out more on how your organisation can get involved in the 14th Annual Awards please email mostaque@ciluton.co.uk to see how you can get involved.

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.
In a continuously tough economic environment, the Community Awards has benefited many previous sponsors in gaining exposure and increased customer awareness through our various marketing and promotional channels of the Awards.

We would like to welcome organisations with an opportunity to sponsor one of our amazing categories and join a cohort of local well-established and reputable firms in getting involved with the Community Awards. We have a number of exceptional sponsorship and package deals available for organisations to support this year.

The Awards are an excellent way to ‘put something back’ into the community whilst gaining a great level of exposure through our cost-effective marketing packages. If you are interested in finding out more on how your organisation can get involved in the 13th Annual Awards please email Mostaque@ciluton.co.uk to receive a sponsorship brochure.

Nominations

Our nominations will open from Wednesday 8th March 2023. Keep up to date with us on our social platforms. Please also take some time to read over our nomination guidlines & Terms & Conditions.

Award Categories

YOUNG HERO

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.

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 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

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.

CHARITY OF THE YEAR

The award will go to a charity whose exceptional efforts have made a discernible difference. Perhaps you know an outstanding charity who deserves the award for the significant changes their work has made to the local or wider community crossing boundaries of race and religion.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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 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 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.

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.