Public voting has opened for three special categories in the annual Bath and North East Somerset Community Awards which recognise the “incredible efforts” of people in the community.

The awards are run in order to recognise the fantastic contributions individuals and organisations have make to communities across the district.

The Community Awards 2024/25, which celebrate people across B&NES who go above and beyond to try and make life better for others, opened for nominations in October 2024.

This year’s awards, which are organised by B&NES Council and its partners, have a total of nine categories, three of which are now open for public voting with a shortlist of three nominees in each:

Category 1: Charity of the Year

  • Forget Me Not Dementia Care – a dedicated day care centre in Twerton, providing exceptional support and activities for people with dementia
  • I Can and I Am - a charity tackling mental health of young people
  • Trauma Breakthrough - a Bath-based charity dedicated to supporting survivors of trauma and abuse and those in mental health crisis

Category 2: Volunteer Team of the Year

  • Keynsham Community Fridge - saving good food from landfill and providing it to the community
  • The Together Project - a community outreach initiative run by volunteer vets and nurses in Bath, providing non-judgmental veterinary advice, treatment, and care to the pets of vulnerably housed and homeless individuals
  • Somer Valley FM - a volunteer-driven, Ofcom-licensed community radio station serving North East Somerset that is not-for-profit

Category 3: Young Volunteer Team of the Year

  • The BANES Youth Forum - a group of passionate young people aged 11-18 (or up to 25 with additional needs) dedicated to amplifying youth voices
  • Bath Marrow - a student-led group making a direct and immediate impact on the lives of people with blood cancer and their families through the Anthony Nolan charity
  • Nightline - a student-led, confidential, and non-judgemental listening service available to University of Bath students

Residents can vote on the council website until the deadline of Monday, March 24.

Councillor Karen Walker, chair of Bath and North East Somerset Council (independent, Peasedown), said: “We have once again received so many wonderful nominations this year, which is testament to the huge amount of hard work people do in Bath and North East Somerset to make a difference in their communities.

“It’s exciting that winners in three of the categories for nominated organisations will be decided by the public, so please cast your vote and shine a light on the groups that make our communities a better place.”

Following the close of the vote a full list of this year’s award winners will be published on the Community Awards webpage.

The partners in the community awards include:

  • The Student Community Partnership (University of Bath, Bath Spa University and Bath College)
  • Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizen Association (BEMSCA)
  • CURO
  • Bath & North East Somerset Third Sector Group (3SG)
  • HCRG Care Group
  • Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (ICB)