Last updated 10:17, Friday, 10 October 2008

• Click here for a nomination form

Young Volunteer of the year

(under 18 years)

Sponsored by Children's Services

This award is for a young person who by giving their time and skills free of charge has made a signification contribution to the life or lives of other people.
For example this could be a young person who juggles caring for a parent with their school work; someone who shops for an elderly neighbour or just helps out with the younger kids at a sports or leisure activity.
Judges will be looking for :
■ How the young person got involved in volunteering
■ To learn about their commitment
■ Inspirational stories

Volunteer of the year

Sponsored by Northern Vacuums

This award is for an individual who by giving their time and skills free of charge has made a signification contribution to the life or lives of other people. For example this could be someone who has helped to make a community dream come true, someone who runs a local club or takes people to visit family members in hospital.
Judges will be looking for :
■ How the person got involved in volunteering
■ To learn about their commitment
■ Inspirational stories
■ Impact on local communities and/or individuals

Safer Communities

Sponsored by Cumbria Police

This award is specifically for a group or a project whose activities  or presence have made people feel safer in their own home or
community.
For example this could be something that reduces the fear of crime in the neighbourhood or advocates safe driving practice.
Judges will be looking for :
■ Impact on local communities and/or individuals
■ How the group started and/or the project was identified
■ Involvement of volunteers/community members

Stronger Communities

Sponsored by Fire and Rescue

This award recognises that sometimes it is not about the nature of the group or project that improves quality of life for the local communities is about the way that people pull together to achieve the end result. It can make the difference between a place where people live and a community where people belong.
For example this could be developing a community plan where everyone who lives there has their say in what they think their community needs to make it a better place to live, then they work together to turn the words into reality.
Judges will be looking for:
■ Projects that have made a real difference to communities
■ Impact on local communities and/or individuals
■ How the group was started/project was identified
■ Involvement of volunteers/community members

Community Business

Sponsored by LLW Repository Ltd

This award celebrates that not for profit businesses working with paid staff, volunteers or both make a real economic contribution to
Cumbria whilst keeping social responsibility and ethical practice at the heart of what they do.
There are a vast range of social enterprises, cooperatives, developments trusts, charities, registered social landlords etc whose investment in community means that our residents are able to have services they value but that don’t stack up commercially. For example a community bus service, a village shop etc.
Judges will be looking for:
■ Projects that have made a real difference to communities
■ Impact on local communities and/or individuals
■ How the group was started/project was identified
■ Involvement of volunteers/community members

Active Older People

Sponsored by CCC Adult Social Care

We are all working longer, living longer and want to make the most of each day as it comes. This award is for a group or project that
makes that happen for our older Cumbrian residents and values their skills and/or knowledge.
It could be a group whose volunteers enable older people to participate in leisure or community activities. These could be the older people getting involved in tidying up overgrown footpaths or sharing their many skills and experiences to benefit younger members of the community.
Judges will be looking for:
■ Projects that have made a real difference to those involved
■ Impact on local communities and/or individuals
■ How the group was started/project was identified
■ Involvement of volunteers/community members

Active Communities

Sponsored by HF Holidays

This award recognises that in all walks of life, there are a significant number of not for profit groups and organisations that exist to both improve the quality of life for the individuals they serve but also the wider community.
Examples could be a healthy eating project set up to help people learn about shopping & cooking on a budget or any kind of sports or activity-based club whose volunteers enable the members to take part in physical activity.
Judges will be looking for:
■ Projects that have made a real difference to communities
■ Impact on local communities and/or individuals
■ How the group was started/project was identified
■ Involvement of volunteers/community members.

Children and Young People

Sponsored by Watchtree Nature Reserve

The future is in the hands of our young people and this award celebrates those groups or individuals who give their time and commitment to equip those young people gain skills and experiences that will help equip them for that future.
It could be a youth group that was set up for teenagers who had nothing to do, nowhere to go. It may involve community members, parents or other relatives or an individual who is dedicated to coaching a sport or teaching a particular skill.
Judges will be looking for:
■ Projects that have made a real difference to those involved
■ Impact on local communities and/or individuals
■ How the group was started/project was identified
■ Involvement of volunteers/community membersAwards

Greener Communities

Sponsored by Resource Cumbria

We all know that the future of the planet is in our hands and that the three “r’s” are now reduce, reuse and recycle. This award celebrates those groups or projects that actively do just that to and encourage others to make the best use of our natural environment and think about the impact on diminishing resources.
An example of this could be a community group whose actions and activities turned a piece of waste ground that was used by fly tippers into a children’s play area, or a project that helps community facilities be more environmentally friendly.
Judges will be looking for:
■ Projects that have made a real difference to communities
■ Projects that reduce, reuse or recycle
■ Impact on local communities and/or individuals
■ How the group was started/project was identified
■ Involvement of volunteers/community members

Chairman’s Award

Sponsored by CCC Community Unit

Cumbria is a beautiful place with a diverse community and this award celebrates that diversity showing that Cumbria is place where people of different backgrounds can live side by side and get on well together.
For example this could be a something that happens in a community centre supporting people who have English as a second language alongside those who have it as their first or someone whose activities are demystifying culture divides.
Judges will be looking for:
■ Projects that are making made a real difference to communities
■ Projects that bring people together from different backgrounds
together to help each other or the community
■ Impact on local communities and/or individuals
■ How the group was started/project was identified
■ Involvement of volunteers/community members