Community awards Nominate for chance to win share of £20,000
COMMUNITY groups and charities across the city are being invited to nominate themselves for a chunk of £20,000 cash with the return of the Airbus Community Awards.
The awards, run in association with the Post’s sister website Bristol Live and Airbus, are back for 2021, with community groups and charities being urged to nominate themselves for a chance to win.
It’s been a truly difficult year for all and many local groups have really suffered and struggled to keep afloat.
Airbus now wants to give something back and help them pave a more positive future for both themselves and the people they serve.
We are asking for our readers to nominate local charities or groups that they feel are deserving of the award, which will be accompanied by a share of the money to fund a future project.
As well as local people nominating groups, local community groups and charities can also nominate themselves.
But projects must be focused on the areas of education, youth, environment and inclusivity. All groups which meet the entry criteria will make it through to the public voting stage.
Bristol Live editor Emma Slee said: “This year we are giving more charities and groups the chance to win a share of the money. We want every deserving group to have a chance to get involved and win the cash so that they can build a positive future. We want to see lots of groups across Bristol get involved. Best of luck!”
Airbus’ community engagement manager Hannah Hammond added: “We are delighted to launch the 2021 Airbus Community Awards. The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating effect on charities and community groups, so this is a great opportunity for us to support them with a potential share of a £20,000 prize fund.
“It is always humbling when we hear about the commitment, hard work and dedication from previous winners and Airbus is proud, through these awards, to give something back to those groups supporting our local community.”
The ten winning groups will each receive prizes, ranging from £1,000 to £7,000.
» 1st prize £7,000
» 2nd prize £4,000
» 3rd prize £2,000
» Seven runners up receive £1,000 each
Last year the awards helped a number of groups across the Bristol area including Mama’s Swaps & Freebies Bristol.
The group walked away with the top prize of £7,000 after securing the largest number of votes.
A spokesperson for the group said: “By winning the £7,000 we were able to establish ourselves at HQ. We saw it as possible and we saw it very much in the future but we didn’t have a venue, we didn’t have the funds behind us, it wasn’t quite there for us yet and that award made it possible for us.
“We reached out to Patchway Town Council and agreed we would occupy the Casson Centre for two days a week.
“We needed to purchase pretty much everything that we needed and it all needed to be flat packed.
“We bought everything that’s in HQ. We bought stackable chairs, drop-leaf tables, folding mats, a soft-play ball-pit, a playpen, sensory toys, all the changing facilities.
“We have a food aid cupboard which we keep regularly stocked.
“On a Wednesday we run a stay and play session, where mums with little ones can come and have a cup of coffee and a chat and the kids can play in a safe environment; it’s not just exclusively for mums.
“A lot of the babies that come along are apprehensive and so are the parents at first after being locked away for so long because of Covid.
“Once they’ve come along and we’ve dished them up a cup of coffee or a cup of tea we sit down and have a chat, we are really welcoming, really relaxed.
“We get regular people who come back every week which is fantastic and they welcome new people just as much as we do and we know that friendships have been formed through our group and from them meeting on a Wednesday.
“On a Saturday we do a private hire party on a Saturday and have held anti-natal groups who have meet over the internet as that’s the only way they could have done it during Covid, but for the first time they have been able to meet up in person.
“We also ran an initiative called Mama’s meal boxes where we were giving away meal boxes to families who needed help. We had 150 families who come to us. It all just was such a positive experience.
“We’ve built a sense of ideology and trust and sense of community. There has been so much positive which has happened from it.
“We can’t thank Airbus enough, it opened the door to the community, not just us.”
In second place last year and picking up an impressive £4,000 was North Bristol RFC and in third place and winning £2,000 was Children’s Hospice South West.
The awards, which have helped dozens of community groups across the Bristol area since their launch, are now in their sixth year.
All registered groups will appear in the Bristol Post and online.
People and community groups then vote online for their favourites until Sunday, September 19, at 11.59pm.
The winning groups with the most votes will then be announced – and will win a slice of the cash fund.
» You can make your nominations at https://tinyurl.com/27ef373u
» Terms and conditions at bristol. live.co.uk/houserules