Nominations are already starting to come in for the prestigious Community Champion Awards 2025 and we are looking forward to receiving many, many more.
Last year, we were delighted to get an incredible 180 entries across the nine categories, and the judges struggled to come up with a shortlist of three for each. And now they are preparing to do it all again.
Please don’t let festivities get in the way, because you only have until midnight on Sunday, January 4 th to get your nominations in via the
Torbay Communities website.
Last year, the Health and Wellbeing Champion was Bryan Pitman from Brixham Rugby, who set up the club's Looseheadz mental health wellbeing group after a tragic incident when one of the first team players took his own life at the age of 34.
His citation read: “He has inspired us all to be proactive and NOT to be ashamed of sharing how we feel.”
The Carer of the Year 2024 was Kevin Helmore, who sadly died a few weeks ago. He was cited as “..a full time unpaid carer, who wants to help get the voice of the Learning Disabled community heard in Torbay as well as helping to improve things for the people who are Learning Disabled. “
All our nominees in all categories had one thing in common, dedication to their cause and in the Emergency Worker of the Year category, it was Angie Manning from What’s Your Problem who came out top.
Her citation was full of praise for her work: “Angie always centres the individual in any support she arranges and is so quick to help. She uses her expertise to support the community in a way that makes a massive difference both to services and to members of the community. “
Volunteer of the Year went to Barbara Sutton, whose efforts with Children’s Week and the Girl Guiding movement were summed up with the words: "She always goes the extra mile and makes it truly special for the children involved. Babs always hides from the limelight - but truly deserves huge recognition for her years of voluntary work."
Our youngest contestant last year, five-year-old Leighton Rose, carried off the Young Volunteer of the Year award for her litter picking efforts.
Her nomination read: “Leighton has helped to make our home, our streets, our planet that little bit cleaner. She inspires other children to do the same, and she has raised an incredible amount of money .”
Another hotly contested category was the Volunteering Team of the Year, which went to Torbay Rescue Coastguard, who are all employed or self-employed and regularly leave their jobs to attend incidents – more than 150 of them a year.
Everyone needs a Good Neighbour, but you would be very lucky if that neighbour was our winner, Jess Gane, who was praised for being: “a busy young mother of four and a business owner, and she still finds time to get to know and help her neighbours and is devoted to improving her local community for all who live there. “
Cricketfields Community Gardens, championed by Paddy and Jemma Cain, has picked up a clutch of awards over the years and carried off our Climate and Environment Award for being a "A friendly, welcoming and safe space in Hele for all to attend.”
Our Lifetime Award was won by Norman Mcnamara who also won the Community Champion of the Year Award after a vote from all the other winners and nominees. A well known figure in the Bay, Norms “started an amazing MP3 program that offers calmness to many, reducing anxiety, and bringing joy and hope back to individuals living with dementia, as well as their families and the professionals who care for them.
“He has inspired so many people globally to step up and step in to make a difference. His ability to communicate the true needs of those living with dementia and their families hits home with professionals and families. He has authored books and created more collaborations than most on a shoestring budget. He is recognised around the world for the difference he has made.”
But that was last year, and we are now looking forward to celebrating many more unsung heroes, and we need your help to ensure they get the thanks and the praise they deserve. Go to the
Torbay Communities website and put their name up in lights.
The deadline for nominations is midnight on Sunday 4 January, and there are still opportunities to sponsor award categories.
