The Community Action Suffolk Awards are back this year as the perfect way to recognise individuals, groups or projects that have been invaluable to the county over the past 12 months. 

Now in their fourth year, the awards specialise in honouring volunteering and community heroes around Suffolk. Pete Richardson, CEO of Community Action Suffolk, says: “These annual awards are so important because they allow us to shine a light on some incredible people, groups, buildings, ideas and events”.

Last year’s winners include Eve Brooks-Parkin, who won The Andrew Towers award for Young Person of the Year, and Ann Negus, who was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering award.

Since the age of ten Eve has volunteered with the Eden-Rose Coppice Trust (ERCT) which supports children with learning difficulties. She attends the ERCT’s holiday club where she leads a group of young volunteers and helps them to connect with the environment, teaches them valuable skills and allows them to support their community. 

Ann is a qualified volunteer athletics coach, membership secretary, fundraiser and trustee at Orwell Panthers Disability Athletics Club, and is a spritely 80 years old! She has been coaching young disabled athletes for over 50 years, where her enthusiasm and expertise has helped to develop and nurture the their skills.

If you think you know anybody like Eve or Ann who deserves to win one of these fantastic awards, nominations are open now and the eight entry areas are detailed below. 

• The Anne Dunford OBE award for Youth Participation
• The Roddy Macleod award for Youth Club of the Year
• The Andrew Towers award for Young Person of the Year
• The Colonel Probert award for Community Initiative
• The Ian Campbell MBE award for Individual Initiative 
• The Village Hall / Community Building award
• Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering
• Event Organiser of the Year 

Nominations are open until 27th July and can be completed here: https://www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/2018/06/12/celebrate-the-heroes-in-your-community-for-2018/

The awards will be presented in a ceremony at the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket on 25th September.

For more information about Community Action Suffolk please check out their website here: https://www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk