Two weeks left to nominate your community heroes!

With only two weeks until nominations close in the 2025 Community Volunteer Awards, it’s time to show your appreciation for our borough’s unsung heroes.

Arranged by Community CVS and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, these annual awards recognise and celebrate the hard work, passion and dedication of the borough’s volunteers.

This year, there are six categories for nominations:

• People – recognising volunteers who support other people
• Prosperity – recognising volunteers who support employment, enterprise or tackling poverty
• Planet – recognising volunteers who make a difference to the environment, sustainability and tackle climate change
• Peace – recognising volunteers who support community cohesion in our borough, or who help keep our communities and vulnerable residents safe
• Place – recognising volunteers who have had an impact on improving our town centres and community spaces
• Participation – recognising volunteers who support involvement in areas like the arts and culture, and physical activity and sport.

There are more details of each category and the criteria for nominations on the Community CVS website at  https://www.communitycvs.org.uk/volunteer/volunteer-awards. 

Nominations can also be made for the Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of someone who has volunteered for 20 years or more, and the Young Person’s Award, for a volunteer aged 25 or under. 

The nominations deadline is Friday 1 August at 5pm.

Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, commented:

If you know a self-less volunteer who supports other people, or a community group that works hard to make life better, please find the time to nominate them for a Community Volunteer Award.

Already around 100 nominations have been received for worthy community groups and individuals in Blackburn with Darwen. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to nominate them. Your nomination will help them to feel valued and appreciated.

Making a nomination for the Community Volunteer Awards is quick and easy to do:

• Online using the Community Volunteer Awards nomination form on the Community CVS website
• On paper – you can request nomination forms from Community CVS at the Community Hub on Railway Road in Blackburn – or contact Donna Talbot on (01254) 583957 or donna.talbot@communitycvs.org.uk.

Garth Hodkinson, Chief Executive of Community CVS, added:

At Community CVS, we believe that everyone has the potential to grow, contribute and live well. We know volunteering is often the beginning of that journey. It builds confidence, skills and connection, and plays a vital role in shaping a stronger, more compassionate community.

The BwD Community Volunteer Awards are our chance to shine a light on the people who give their time, energy and care to others, often quietly and without fanfare. We’re proud to celebrate their stories, and recognise the remarkable volunteers who make Blackburn with Darwen a better place for everyone.

The 2025 Community Volunteer Awards will be held at Ewood Park on Thursday 6 November, with the BBC’s Graham Liver acting as host once again.