Date published: 2025-04-16 | Category: Communities and volunteering, Focusing on prevention, Improving people's lives
The amazing work that individuals and organisations do across Bath and North East Somerset to improve the lives of others has been recognised in this year’s Community Awards.
The Community Awards 2024/2025 celebrate the positive contributions that people make to communities and the winners were announced at a ceremony at Bath’s Guildhall this week (April 14).
The awards organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council and its partners invited nominations for individuals or organisations who go above and beyond to support others.
The charity of the year, volunteer of the year and young volunteer team of the year categories were decided by public vote.
The awards winners are:
- Willson Volunteer of the Year: Graham Bush who became a member of Saltford Scouts as a cub in 1980 and has since shown unwavering commitment to empowering young individuals through his involvement with Saltford Scouts and the Wansdyke Scout District.
- Beryl Dixon Community Leader of the Year: Ransford Ras Habakkuk Graham who arrived in 1967 as one of the Windrush children and has since dedicated himself to community work for the black community, currently serving as an elder in the Rastafari community at Fairfield House.
- Charity of the Year: Forget Me Not Club based in Twerton which provides a small, friendly club to support older people living with dementia. Highly commended were I Can, and I Am and Trauma Breakthrough.
- Volunteer Team of the Year: Somer Valley FM, a not-for-profit community radio station focused on volunteer engagement and connecting education with community development. Highly commended were the Keynsham Community Fridge team and The Together Project at Bath Cats & Dogs Home.
- Young Volunteer Team of the Year: Bath Marrow which seeks to have a positive impact on the lives of people with blood cancer and their families through its partnership with the Anthony Nolan charity. Highly commended were The BANES Youth Forum and Bath Nightline
- Peter Duppa-Miller Parish Award for commitment and service by councillors: Councillor Phil Harding of Saltford Parish Council
Councillor Karen Walker, council Chair, said: “The Community Awards serve as a platform to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of remarkable individuals and organisations within our community, allowing us to express our appreciation. We were thrilled to receive over eighty nominations across various categories, and your inspiring stories made the decision-making process quite challenging. Congratulations to the winners and those highly commended.
“Thank you to everyone who participated in the awards, including the nominators, our partner organisations and everyone who contributed to the public voting categories.”
Becky Brooks, Director at 3SG, said: "The Community Awards were launched by Bath & North East Somerset Council at 3SG's Volunteer Fair last October to recognise the importance of charities and local residents who go above and beyond for the benefit of others. A huge congratulations to all of the winners of this year's awards and thank you for the tireless work that you do. It is needed now more than ever and these awards support that well deserved recognition."
The Community Awards partners include:
- The Student Community Partnership (University of Bath, Bath Spa University & Bath College)
- Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizen Association (BEMSCA)
- CURO
- Bath & North East Somerset Third Sector Group (3SG)
- Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (ICB)
- HCRG Care Group
ENDS