Come on Sporting Community of Basingstoke & Deane  

Nominate your community heroes for a top local award !

With no funding available to run this years Sports Council Awards evening, Sports are strongly encouraged to nominate in the categories below.  Please also advise us of nominations submitted with a photo via basvsc@outlook.com so we can feature them on our Sports Council Facebook page.

There are so many fabulous local heroes, great businesses and community organisations in Basingstoke and Deane – and the 21st edition of the prestigious 'A Place to be Proud of Awards' is looking forward to showcasing these community stars in 2024. Now in its third decade, the 'A Place to be Proud of Awards' have recognised and rewarded hundreds of people, businesses, organisations and projects since they started in 2003. 

For 2024, the awards will be moving to a new venue, as the Apollo Hotel, Basingstoke, is now a headline sponsor. Many other long-standing sponsors are also returning, and there are several new categories as organiser Destination Basingstoke widens the scope of community recognition and the nomination forms have been updated, making nominating even easier. 

The award categories for 2024 are: 

1. Above and Beyond

This award is to recognise individuals who have shown incredible professional and personal pride in their work that supports the community. It may be a public servant, a health care worker, a teacher or someone at any business or organisation who has gone above and beyond what would normally be expected in their job to support others in the community.

This award is to recognise individuals who have shown incredible professional and personal pride in their work that supports the community. It may be a public servant, a health care worker, a teacher or someone at any business or organisation who has gone above and beyond what would normally be expected in their job to support others in the community. This could also be someone within a club who has completed years of outstanding Service to Sport or Volunteered or Officiated etc.

2. Volunteer of the Year

This award category showcases the exceptional contribution made by volunteers, who give their time to improve the lives and environment for others in our local community.

3. Charity of the Year

This award is for the registered charity that has made a difference in the Basingstoke and Deane community. Perhaps you know an outstanding charity group, a tireless group of fundraisers, or a charity that deserves the award for the work they have done over a long period of time.

4. Young Role Model

This category is for individuals under 21 who have shown real achievement, either in a talent such as singing, dancing, acting, in a sport, in enterprise, in raising money for charity or in doing something special for their community. This could be in competition, volunteering or officiating etc.

5. Health and Wellbeing

This category is for individuals or organisations involved in initiatives that keep the borough healthy and for people and places dedicated to caring for people in our community. This could be a charity or a group of volunteers, or a business that supports people make healthier lifestyle choices. Also maybe a club who have assisted with Health & Wellbeing initiatives within the community.

6. Unsung Hero

An Unsung Hero is a person who makes an important contribution to the community - whether that is as a good neighbour, as a volunteer, or supporting others. It is someone who does a lot, and may have been doing it for a long time but doesn’t get much public recognition. We all know a community unsung hero – use this category to say a heartfelt thank you for all their work behind the scenes. This could be Service to Sport, Regular assistance behind the scenes, Service to Sport, Officiating or Volunteering etc.

7. Community Project Award

This category is for an individual or group (voluntary or not) who have worked hard to develop projects/s or activities for the overall benefit of the community. This could be anything from support groups for vulnerable people and fundraising, to community tree planting, and awareness raising campaigns. Nominations can be for one-off projects or ongoing programmes within the community..

8. Sports Club of the Year

This category will be seeking to reward the local sports club that stands out from the crowd. This could be because of activities in a particular sport, but nominees will also be recognised for other commitments and contributions i.e: support for a local charity; making a difference to their local community.

9. Sports Achiever of the Year – Senior and Junior

This category will be looking for the junior sports achiever (under 18) and senior sports achiever (18 and over) – a person who has made his/her/their mark in their field of sport. It could also be a sports person, official, coach or volunteer.

Destination Basingstoke is partnering with Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke Voluntary Action, and Basingstoke Voluntary Sports Council to help ensure the call to nominate reaches every part of the local community. Gazette Newspapers, which was a founder of the awards in 2003, is the media partner for the 21st year. 

Jonathan Pender, chair of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Destination Basingstoke is proud to organise the awards as they are at the heart of what DB does – showcasing, and celebrating, the amazing individuals, businesses and community organisations that make Basingstoke and Deane a place to be proud of. 

“We are delighted that so many sponsors are continuing with their support for these prestigious awards, and we are also delighted to welcome some new sponsors for 2024. 

“We are particularly grateful to the Apollo Hotel, Basingstoke for their headline event sponsorship, and we look forward to bringing the awards to this well-known and popular local hotel and business centre.” 

Entry to this year’s awards is now open – and you can read all about the categories, and how to enter, by going to www.destinationbasingstoke.co.uk/a-place-to-be-proud-of/  

Entries for the 2024 event are now open, so why not make a nomination today ! Closing date is Sunday March 31st with the Awards being made at the Apollo Hotel on Thursday evening June 6th

A Place to be Proud of awards are organised by Destination Basingstoke in partnership with event sponsors, key partners Basingstoke Voluntary Action, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke Voluntary Sports Council, and The Gazette as media partner.