Community Awards 2025
The 2025 Community Awards are now open for nominations!
The Council’s Community Awards recognise and celebrate the contribution and achievements of individual volunteers and voluntary sector organisations that serve Blaby District. We are excited to announce that this year we have introduced a new award category: Sport and Physical Activity Volunteer of the Year. So, there are four categories this year:
This award is for a person who has given up their time to help others. They have made a difference to their community, club or group or have dedicated themselves to improving the environment in the district.
This award is for a young person who has given up their time to help others. They have made a difference to their community, club or group or have dedicated themselves to improving the environment in the district.
This award is for someone of any age who has given up their time to contribute to delivering sport and/or physical activity in the community thereby having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of others.
For a community group or organisation that has improved the quality of life for residents within the District of Blaby. The award honours the achievement within the group’s community and the difference they make to local residents.
Entry criteria
- Nominations will not be accepted for either individuals or groups who were winners or runners-up in each of the categories in 2023 or 2024
- Employees of Blaby District Council and Council Members may not be nominated
- Nominations will not be considered if the nomination relates mainly to the individual’s paid employment
- Nominations for categories A, B and C should either live, work or study in the district or their actions should be of direct benefit to the district
- Nominations for category B should be under 18 years of age (or under 25 with additional needs)
- Nominations for category D must be a voluntary or community sector group or organisation based within Blaby District or one that directly benefits residents of the district, with a formal constitution or governing document
If you know an individual or group that you feel deserves recognition, please complete the online nomination form using the button below. When making your nomination, please include enough information to explain why your nominee deserves an award. Remember - this is the only information the panel and voters will have to make their decision. The closing date for receipt of all entries is midnight on Sunday 9 November 2025.
Alternatively you can request a Word version or hard copy of the nomination form by emailing vcshub@blaby.gov.uk.
Please return your completed nomination form by the closing date either using the email address above or by post to: Community Business Work and Skills Team, Blaby District Council, Desford Road, Narborough LE19 2EP.
Selection of finalists
- This year, once all nominations are in, we will open a public vote to decide the winner and runner up for the Community Group of the Year award. The voting period will be between Monday 17 November and Sunday 14 December 2025 and you will be able to vote on this webpage
- A panel will decide the winners and runners up in the individual volunteer categories
- All finalists will be contacted by Monday 5 January 2026. If you have not heard by this date, unfortunately this means that you have not been shortlisted
- The decisions reached will be final and no correspondence will be entered into
- Finalists, or their representatives, will need to attend an awards evening on Thursday 29 January 2026
Prizes
- The winners in categories A, B and C will each receive £100
- The runners-up in categories A, B and C will each receive £50
- The winning group in category D will win £1000
- The runner-up group in category D will win £500
Winners and runners-up in categories A, B and C will also be given the opportunity to nominate a local community group/organisation to receive £750 (winner) and £500 (runner-up). The nominated group/organisation must be a voluntary or community sector group or organisation based within Blaby District or one that directly benefits residents of the district, with a formal constitution or governing document.
Sponsors
Finally, we would like to acknowledge and thank our generous sponsors for funding this year's Community Awards:
- Everyone Active, our lead sponsor, is sponsoring the individual Sport and Physical Activity Volunteer of the Year prizes as well as costs relating to running the awards ceremony
- Central Co-op is sponsoring the individual Young Volunteer of the Year prizes
- All group prizes are funded by proceeds from the Love Blaby Lottery's Blaby District Community Fund so a big thank you also to our lottery supporters