Have you been thinking of nominating someone for this year’s Comet Community Awards? Well now is the time to act as the deadline to submit your entries is 5pm today.
We’ve had lots of nominations across the 12 different categories – which include Teacher of the Year, Good Neighbour, Lifetime Achievement and Care Worker of the Year – but it’s not too late to put your own community hero forward.
Once all the entries are in judges – including representatives from each of our award sponsors – will put their heads together to come up with a list of finalists, who will then be invited to a special awards ceremony being held at Letchworth’s Icknield Centre on Friday, May 20.
Ahead of today’s deadline, winners from the 2015 awards have been reflecting on what it meant to be recognised.
Lorna Hemmings, who won the Valiant Volunteer category for her work for Hitchin Volunteer Army, said: “For a start it was really special to be nominated and then to actually win was even more of a shock to the system.
“It was a real reward for all our hard work and it was nice to meet and speak to many others on the night – I found it quite inspirational.
“To be nominated makes you feel really humbled and special, and I was grateful and thankful to be recognised for what we’ve achieved.”
Immy Blackburn-Horgan from Letchworth won the Young Achiever Award last year at the age of 16.
Reflecting on the experience, she said: “Last year was one of the most difficult for me personally and I really questioned if I could go on and cope with A levels.
“Winning the award came as such a great shock and gave me recognition for things I did for fun, for my area and to develop my own skills too.
“This being valued by our community gave me the boost I needed and this was reinforced by attending the ceremony. Being able to take my friend felt so special.”
Another winner on the night was Siobhan Eckersall, who was Teacher of the Year after receiving dozens of nominations from health and social care pupils at Hitchin Girls’ School.
“The awards ceremony was absolutely amazing,” said Siobhan.
“The students were so thrilled when they found out I’d won– it meant the world to them as their voices had been heard and I don’t think they could believe it. I think they felt they’d won and I was pleased for them as much as me!
“I’ve got the award on the desk in my office and lots of people comment on it. It’s something I’m very proud of.”
To nominate someone visit www.cometcommunityawards.co.uk.
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