Go on, nominate your hero for the Torbay Community Champion Awards 2025

They’re back! The Torbay Community Champion Awards have been launched again to celebrate the very best of our communities and those who live in them.
It is your chance to say a very public thank-you to someone who deserves recognition and has gone the extra mile in their role, helping make the Bay a brighter and more inspiring place to live.
Torbay Communities has again teamed up with the Torbay Weekly to shine a spotlight on remarkable individuals in the Bay. We aim to celebrate and honour those who contribute so much to our communities, particularly within the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
We are looking for neighbours who go above and beyond, volunteers who tirelessly dedicate their time, never expecting anything in return, or a professional who has made a significant impact. Now is the time to recognise their efforts.
Nominations are now open and you can nominate anyone from the community to one or more of the award categories. The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday, January 4.
The awards will be presented at a glittering event at the Torbay Communities annual meeting at the Bay Church in Sands Road, Paignton on Friday, January 23 at 3pm.
Our first Community Champion Awards last year were inundated with entries and the judges had to whittle down more than 180 nominations across ten categories before coming up with a shortlist of three for each.
Torbay dementia campaigner Norman McNamara, better known as Norms, won last year’s the Lifetime Award and was named overall Community Champion of the Year. He has been a local, UK-wide and international advocate, making a major impact around the world. His Purple Angel programme has ambassadors worldwide advocating to improve dementia care.
Competition is expected to be similarly impressive across the board this year as numerous individuals in the VCSE sector need to be acknowledged, held in high esteem, celebrated and, of course, thanked.
Torbay Weekly editor Jim Parker said: “These awards are really what we are all about — recognising and saying thank you to people who are doing great and selfless things at the heart of our community in the Bay. The response we had to last year's first community awards was unbelievable — almost 200 entries in less than two weeks. Let’s hope we can beat even that this year.”
Tracey Cabache, director of Torbay Communities, added: “There are so many unsung heroes in the voluntary community and social enterprise sector, whose efforts make a massive difference to many people’s lives across the Bay.
“These annual awards are an opportunity to say thank you to them and to celebrate their achievements. They deserve to have their names up in lights and that is what we want to do. We want to tell their stories and make sure that their efforts are recognised.”
Sponsors for the individual categories are being sought. Anybody interested is asked to contact David Gledhill at Torbay Communities. You can email David at davidgledhill@torbaycdt.org.uk
Categories are:
Health and wellbeing champion — a worker in the voluntary, community or social enterprise sector committed to improving the health and well-being of people in Torbay, including those who provide support for people with additional needs or disabilities, support an organisation that advocates for those with certain illnesses or conditions, provide activities for people with disabilities or long-term illnesses, or accompanies patients to hospital.
Carer of the year — awarded to someone who improves the life of an individual or group of people through their helpfulness, compassion and support.
Emergency worker of the year — a worker in the voluntary, community or social enterprise sector who strives to keep their communities safe by providing emergency services, safety awareness and training or is involved in an activity that enhances safety or protects their communities in emergencies.
Volunteer of the year — a volunteer who has shown commitment, passion and care for their volunteering and made a significant difference to their volunteer cause and the community at large.
Young volunteer of the year — a young person who has shown a real commitment to volunteering and/or overcoming serious problems and made a positive difference in their own life or other peoples’.  It will celebrate the work carried out by young people who give up their time to help their community; in school, at youth clubs or a voluntary organisation.
Volunteering team — this award is given to a group of three or more volunteers who have made a real difference to their community or an organisation.
Good neighbour award — a resident who strives to make sure there is a place for everyone in their local community and is devoted to helping those who live around them.
Climate and environment champion — a worker in the voluntary, community or social enterprise sector who dedicates their time to caring for their local environment, takes part in environmental protection projects, champions a sustainability programme, or takes part in any other volunteer activity that supports the environment
Lifetime award — this award is for someone who has worked within their community for many years and recognises their long-standing dedication to improving the quality of life in Torbay.
And finally, our judges will be choosing from the winners of all the above awards an overall winner, the Community Champion — a worker in the voluntary, community or social enterprise sector who has shown commitment, passion and care for their volunteering or work and made a significant difference to their cause and the community at large.
Don’t let Christmas get in the way, get your nominations in today and get them the recognition that they deserve. Visit: torbaycommunities. com/torbay-community-champion -awards