North Yorkshire Community Awards 2025 terms and conditions

1. Nomination process

1.1 The nomination process will run from Monday 2 June 2025 to Sunday 3 August 2025 (closing date).

1.2 All nominations must be received by no later than midnight on Sunday 3 August 2025. All nominations received after this time will not be considered.

1.3 To nominate:

• consider the categories and read the guidance
• choose a community group or person that you feel has made a difference to their community through their voluntary work (a “nominee”)
• complete the online nomination form. Paper forms are available on request if you are unable to complete the form online

1.4 It is the responsibility of all nominators to ensure that the nominee is aware of the nomination.

1.5 By submitting a nomination, you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions.

2. Eligibility

2.1 There are three categories for the 2025 North Yorkshire Community Awards

• community impact - recognising grass roots community groups who have made a positive difference in their community
• collaborative spirit - recognising collaborations that has brought together groups to collaborate and build a relationships to make a lasting impact
• commitment to the community - recognising individual volunteers who have demonstrated unwavering dedication and exceptional service to our community for a period of 10 years or more

2.2 Nominees must be aged over 18.

2.3 Nominees must be individuals or groups actively involved in community action within the North Yorkshire Council area.

2.4 Nominations in all categories must have had a positive impact on people living in the North Yorkshire Council area.

2.5 Nominees must have a minimum of 10 years of service for the Commitment to the Community award.

2.6 Nominations for the Collaborative Spirit award must consist of two or more community groups working together.

2.7 Nominations for the Community Impact award must be grassroots community organisations. These are typically local groups formed by community members to address specific issues or needs within their community. They often operate at the ground level, relying on the active participation and support of local residents.

2.8 Nominees must have been active between 1 May 2024 to 30 April 2025.

2.9 Community groups may be a branch of, or affiliated to, a larger regional or national organisation, as long as the volunteers started and developed the initiative for the activity locally, and the group’s achievements go beyond what is expected of similar groups in the wider organisation’s network.

2.10 Self-nominations will be accepted for groups but not for individuals.

2.11 Winners and runners up may not be considered for an award in the following three years.

2.12 Nominations will not be considered if:

a. automatically generated by computer
b. completed in bulk
c. illegible, have been altered, reconstructed, forged or tampered with or
d. incomplete

2.13 Nominations that do not meet the eligibility criteria or fail to provide required information may be disqualified.

3. Selection

3.1 Nominations will be assessed based on how the individual, organisation or project has:

• tackled issues that affect people living in North Yorkshire
• made an impact on their community and
• engaged the community and inspired others

3.2 The assessment panel will review all nominations and make final decisions based on the provided information.

3.3 Following an eligibility check, a minimum of three nominees per category will be shortlisted by an assessment panel including:

• Chairman of North Yorkshire Council
• Vice-Chairman of North Yorkshire Council
• Employees of North Yorkshire Council
• Representatives of voluntary and community sector

3.4 Shortlisting will be based on information provided in the nomination forms. The decision of the panel (acting reasonably) will be final.

3.5 Panel members will remove themselves from evaluating any nominations where there is a conflict of interest. Declaration on interest will be taken.

3.6 Shortlisted nominees will be notified by email by Monday 8 September 2025.

3.7 Visits to, or virtual meetings with, the Shortlisted Nominees, where necessary, will take place by Thursday 30 October 2025.

3.8 The decision of the assessment panel is final and the panel reserves the right not to make awards if there are no eligible nominations.

4. Award presentation

4.1 Finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony at the North Yorkshire Wider Partnership Conference at the Pavilions of Harrogate, North Yorkshire Showground on the morning of Friday 21 November 2025.

4.2 Each finalist shall receive three tickets to attend the Awards Ceremony.

4.3 In the event that a finalist is unable to attend the Awards Ceremony, then they may nominate someone to attend the Awards Ceremony on their behalf.

The prize

5.1 There will be one winner and two runners up for each category.

5.2 Each winner will receive:

a. £1000 paid electronically into the group’s bank account or, in the case of individuals, to be donated to the local community group / charity of the Winner’s choice
b. an engraved trophy and certificate

5.3 Each runner up will receive:

a. £250 paid electronically into the group’s bank account or, in the case of individuals, to be donated to the local community group / charity of the winner’s choice
b. an engraved trophy and certificate

5.4 The prize is not negotiable or transferable.

5.5 The decision of the assessment panel is final and the panel reserves the right not to make awards if there are no eligible nominations.

6. Winner announcement

6.1 The winners and runners up will be announced at the Awards Ceremony.

6.2 The decision of the panel is final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into.

7. General

7.1 If there is any reason to believe that there has been a breach of these terms and conditions, we may, at its sole discretion, reserve the right to exclude your nomination from the Awards.

7.2 We reserve the right to hold void, suspend, cancel or amend the awards where it becomes necessary to do so.

Data protection

Information on how we will use your data for the Community Awards, including your privacy rights and the complaints process are detailed on our privacy notice.