THE quest to find the people who really make a difference in their communities has started for 2014.

Nominations are now open for the third annual Craven Community Champion Awards, to celebrate the district’s unsung heroes and honour their achievements.

If you know someone who deserves recognition for the time they dedicate to volunteering in Craven, or a community group who merits acknowledgement for its work in the district, then why not nominate them for an award?

Craven District Council and the Craven herald have teamed to launch the awards, which are split into seven categories, to celebrate those who have made an outstanding contribution to arts and culture, sport and recreation, and creating a greener Craven.

There are special categories to recognise the achievements of those who have given their time freely to help other people or the community in general. Each award has been sponsored by a local business, including Cirteq, Peel Entertainment, Keelham Farm Shop, Broughton Hall Business Park, Angus Fire and The Coniston Hotel and Country Estate.

Councillor Linda Brockbank, chairman of Craven District Council, said: “The council is proud to be running the Community Champion Awards again this year. It is a great opportunity for us all to show our appreciation to the many people who dedicate their time to helping others and who work hard for the benefit for us all.

"I would therefore urge everyone to nominate their local champion today and say thanks for all their hard work”.

The winners will be announced on Thursday, October 23, at an awards ceremony hosted by the Coniston Hotel and Country Estate at Coniston Cold. Everyone who has been shortlisted to receive an award will be invited to attend the ceremony.

This year there will be three new awards. The first, sponsored by Principle Healthcare Ltd, is to recognise an organisation that has developed a breakthrough product or service to address a community need.

Superfast North Yorkshire will also be presenting an award to an individual or group that has made a significant impact on community well-being through technology.

The third award will be made by Craven District Council to recognise the outstanding performance of a community project and will be presented to an individual or group whose work has significantly benefitted the community during 2013.

Nominations will be open for eight weeks, closing on Friday, September 5. Nomination forms are available from the Council website www.cravendc.gov.uk/communitychampions or pick one up from any local participating shop or service, library or doctors' surgery.

The seven awards open for nomination are;.

• Arts and Culture Award (sponsored by Peel Entertainment) - This award celebrates those who have made an outstanding contribution to arts, cultural and heritage activities in their community or the District in general.

• Best Community Group (sponsored by Keelham Farm Shop) – This award recognises a voluntary group that has made a positive impact on people’s lives and/ or has made a significant contribution to their community of the District in general.

• Greener Craven Award (sponsored by Craven District Council Waste Management Service) – This award recognises an individual or group that has made a contribution to enhancing the local environment. This can include anything from cleaning up a green space to starting a recycling initiative; from starting an allotment group to organising a clothes swap.

• Innovative Business Contribution to the Community (sponsored by Principle Healthcare) - This award recognises and rewards an organisation that has developed a breakthrough product, service or product to address a community need. Innovation is defined as unleashing an opportunity that is more effective, equitable or sustainable than existing approaches.

• Sport and Recreation Award (sponsored by Broughton Hall Business Park) - This award celebrates those who have made an outstanding contribution to amateur sport or physical activity in their community and District in general.

• Volunteer of the Year Award (sponsored by Angus Fire) - This award rewards an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to their community through volunteering in 2013.

• Young Citizen of the Year Award (sponsored by The Coniston Hotel) - This award will be given to a young citizen aged 11 - 25 who has made a positive difference in their community or District in general.

In addition, the following three awards are also up for grabs but the winners will be chosen by the judging panel or award sponsor and are therefore not open for public nomination.

Citizen of the Year Award (sponsored by Yorkshire Housing) - This award will be given to a citizen in recognition of his or her outstanding contributions directly to Craven during the past year, all nominations will be automatically entered into this category.

Digital Innovation in the Community Award (Sponsored by Superfast North Yorkshire) - This award recognises and promotes those that have enabled of have the potential to significantly enhance community well-being through technology. The winner of this award will be chosen by the award sponsor, Superfast North Yorkshire who are bringing fast, fibre broadband to homes and businesses across North Yorkshire.

Civic Achievement Award – This Award is to recognise the outstanding performance of a community project and will be presented by Craven District Council to an individual or group whose work has significantly benefitted the community during 2013.

How to enter

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.cravendc.gov.uk/communitychampions

Paper entry forms are also available from local shops and services and the following places:

• Council Offices, Belle Vue Square, Skipton.

• Any library in Craven

• Any doctors surgery in Craven

• Ingleton Community Centre

• Grassington Hub

• Craven Volunteer Centre

• Craven College, High Street, Skipton

• Craven CVS, new offices, Newmarket Street, Skipton

• Craven Museum and Gallery, Skipton Town Hall

• Craven Pool and Fitness Centre

• Any Yorkshire Housing Office or member of Staff

• Greatwood and Horseclose Community Centre

• Bentham Town Hall

For further information contact Harriet Steventon on 01756 706290 or email: hstevenson@cravendc.gov.uk