The Communities Team have run the Community Awards alongside the Chair’s office and its partners since 2009. The event grew into a large scale celebration at the Guildhall in Bath, with over 350+ people in attendance and receiving 170 nominations at its peak. Since Covid 19, whilst the Community Awards have continued it has scaled back its format.
Due to the restrictions in place during 2020, the Awards were presented via a series of online and personal presentations (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o4gSZFB8RQ). This was promoted via social media.
In 2021, the Awards recognised people helping out during the pandemic with a special Shining Light Award. This was presented at an online Awards celebration with nominators pre-recorded saying a few words about the winners. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph6bUukMpUU.
In 2022 and 2023, budgetary constraints meant that the Awards could not return to the pre-pandemic format, and a new format was created. Trees were planted in community locations and plaques were dedicated to the winners. Winners of the Awards were invited to a small event.