Community Heroes Awards

Our annual Community Heroes Awards recognise the contributions and achievements of local people working to make the borough and their community a better place to be.

Submit a nomination

The deadline for nominations is 11.59pm on Wednesday 26 February 2025.

Read through the nomination criteria and each of our categories before submitting your nomination.

When completing your nomination, please provide as much information as possible about why you think your nominee should receive the award, supported by specific examples.

When including examples, focus on providing information that demonstrates the impact of the nominee’s activities and the outcomes and community benefit that have been achieved as a result.

To submit a nomination you will need:

• Your contact details
• Contact details for your nominee

Let us know on your nomination form if you would prefer us not to share your name with your nominee.

Start your nomination

Other ways to nominate

You can also nominate someone by submitting a video or completing our paper form.

Video

All you need to do is send us a clip of yourself, no longer than two minutes. The video should tell us:

• A little about the person/entity you’re nominating
• Which category you’re nominating them for
• How they have contributed to the community (using specific examples)
• The impact their effort has made (with as much detail as you’re able to share)

Videos should be sent to events@richmond.gov.uk.

Paper form

If you would like to submit using a paper form, please email events@richmond.gov.uk or phone 020 8891 7955 to find out where you can pick one up and how to submit it.

Nomination criteria

When making your nomination, please consider the following criteria:

• Nominations must be for individuals, community groups, organisations, businesses or projects that have served the borough in a voluntary capacity; paid work or revenue-generating activities will not be considered
• Nominations must reflect work or contributions that have taken place in and directly benefitted Richmond upon Thames
• Nominations must be for work or contributions that have happened in 2024 (except for the Lifetime Achievement Award)
• Nominees and nominators do not have to reside in the borough
• Nominations can be submitted for more than one category if applicable
• Richmond Council employees can be nominated, but not for work related to their job
• Councillors are not eligible for nomination
• Last year’s Community Heroes Awards winners are not eligible for re-nomination

Nomination categories

Our ten 2024-25 Community Heroes Awards categories cover a variety of areas. Consider the following when making your nomination:

Business Contribution in the Community

This award recognises local businesses that have made a selfless impact on their community through hands-on voluntary work or non-revenue-generating charitable projects. Examples might include initiatives supporting vulnerable groups, advancing local sustainability work, working with schools or enhancing individual educational and skills development.

Communities Together

This award recognises a local group or organisation that has made a significant contribution to fostering equalities and inclusion in the borough, through local work that breaks down existing barriers, builds trust between people and connects our communities.

Community Group of the Year

This award recognises a local group that has made a demonstrated impact on its community through consistent, everyday efforts and acts of kindness, showing what can be done to make a difference when people work together.

Community Project of the Year

This award recognises specific projects or initiatives, run in the past year, that have achieved a significant, measurable impact on the local community and the lives of residents.

Community Spirit Award

This award recognises individuals - not in association with a group or organisation - who help to create stronger communities by supporting others to live happy, healthy lives. This could be a good neighbour, someone who gives their time to help family or friends in need, or a caregiver.

Environmental Award

This award recognises individuals, projects or groups that have driven action to address local environmental and sustainability challenges, helping to create a greener borough for all.

Lifetime Achievement

This award recognises those who have shown a long-term commitment to local voluntary work and have made a significant contribution to their communities over 15 or more years.

Outstanding Volunteer

This award recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution to their community during the past year through voluntary work with a group, charity or organisation.

Trustee of the Year

This award recognises the trustee of a local group or charity who has gone above and beyond in their role.

Young Person Achievement

This award recognises the young people (aged 18 and younger) who go the extra mile to drive change in and improve their community and act as a role model for their peers. This might be through meaningful work to support a local cause or helping those who are less fortunate than themselves.

Shortlisting process

We will be contacting all nominees who have been shortlisted by late March 2025, to ensure they are happy to be put forward. We will let them know who nominated them if asked, unless you have noted in your form that you wish to remain anonymous.

All shortlisted nominees who have given their permission to be included in the process will be invited to an awards event on 29 April 2025, where we will distribute certificates and announce the winners in each category.

2023 winners and nominees

The winners of our 2023 Community Heroes Awards were announced on Thursday 16 May 2024. Read more about the shortlisted nominees and winners in 2023.

Contact

If you have any questions about the Community Heroes Awards or making a nomination, please get in touch at events@richmond.gov.uk or 020 8891 7955. Our team is available to help you Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.