Applications open to nominate Newbury Community Champions

It is time to nominate your community champions.

Applications are now open for the Newbury Town Civic Awards, celebrating the achievements of those who make a difference in the community.

And new to this year, Newbury Town Council has introduced the Local Community Group Civic Award to recognise the work larger local groups provide to the town.

Mayor of Newbury Nigel Foot said: “I am very excited about the upcoming Civic Awards ceremony.

“It’s a great way for us to celebrate and thank all the innovative, caring ideas and actions that our residents come up with.”

Nominees can be entered in five categories including: Newbury Civic Award, Newbury Town Business Civic Award, Newbury Young Persons Civic Award, Newbury Town Environmental Contribution Award and Newbury Town Local Community Group Civic Award.

Nominations can be made online at https://newbury.gov.uk/the-council/civic-office/civic-awards/ or paper copies are available to collect from Newbury Town Hall, which can be posted on request.

The closing date for nominations is Sunday, February 25, with the awards presentation taking place on Wednesday, March 13.

Award winners for 2023 included Kerry Bird, who received her award for initiating the Speen Community Café at The Starting Gate pub.

And 17-year-old Ashley Aspinwall was the winner of the Young Persons Civic Award for their voluntary work as a young leader at the Waterside Centre.

Gardner Leader won the Business Civic Award for regularly supporting community events for their help to the Ukrainian community.

Emma Fearnley was the winner of the Environmental Contribution Award for her work as a trustee with her husband Derek at the Newbury & District Beekeepers Association.