Winners announced in Bath and North East Somerset Community Awards

Work to improve the lives of others by volunteers, community leaders, charities and councillors commended at ceremony held at Bath Guildhall. 

Bath & North East Somerset Council held a special ceremony this week to celebrate the contributions local people make to the community. This year’s Community Awards were held on April 14, at the Guildhall in Bath.

Winners of the 2025 Bath & North East Somerset Council Community Awards, photo courtesy of Bath & North East Somerset Council

Each year, the council invites nominations for individuals and organisations who ‘go above and beyond’ to support others. There are awards in a range of categories. Some are judged by the council and its partners by three awards – charity of the year, volunteer of the year and young volunteer team of the year – are decided by public vote.  

This year, the public awarded charity of the year to the Twerton-based Forget Me Not Club, a small but friendly environment that supports older people living with dementia. Also highly commended in this category were I Can & I Am – which works to nurture self-belief and resilience in young people – and Trauma Breakthrough. 

The Jenny Willson Volunteer of the Year award went to Graham Bush in recognition of his ‘unwavering commitment’ to empowering young people though his involvement with Saltford Scouts and the Wansdyke Scout District. Graham joined Saltford Scouts as a cub in 1980.  

The volunteer team of the year award went to Bath Marrow, an initiative run by the student union at the University of Bath in partnership with the charity Anthony Nolan to support people with blood cancer and their families through regular fundraising and donor recruitment events. Also highly recommended in this category were the BANES Youth Forum and Bath Nightline 

In addition to the awards decided by public vote, the Beryl Dixon Community Leader of the Year was awarded to Rannie Ras Habikut Graham, a ‘Windrush child’ who arrived in the UK in 1967 and has since dedicated himself to community work for the Black community. He currently serves as an elder in the Rastafari community at Fairfield House. 

The not-for-profit community radio station Somer Valley FM won volunteer team of the year. The station focuses on volunteer engagement and connecting education with community development. Also highly commended in this category were the Keynsham Community Fridge team and the Together Project at Bath Cats & Dogs Home. 

Cllr Phil Harding of Saltford Parish Council won the Peter Duppa-Miller Parish Award for commitment and service by councillors.  

The Community Awards are organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council and its partners: The Student Community Partnership (University of Bath, Bath Spa University & Bath College); Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizen Association (BEMSCA); CURO; Bath & North East Somerset Third Sector Group (3SG); Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (ICB); and HCRG Care Group. 

Cllr Karen Walker, Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council, says: ‘The Community Awards serve as a platform to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of remarkable individuals and organisations within our community, allowing us to express our appreciation. We were thrilled to receive over eighty nominations across various categories, and your inspiring stories made the decision-making process quite challenging. Congratulations to the winners and those highly commended. 

‘Thank you to everyone who participated in the awards, including the nominators, our partner organisations and everyone who contributed to the public voting categories.’ 

Becky Brooks, Director at 3SG, one of the council’s partners in organising the awards, adds: ‘The Community Awards were launched by Bath & North East Somerset Council at 3SG’s Volunteer Fair last October to recognise the importance of charities and local residents who go above and beyond for the benefit of others. A huge congratulations to all of the winners of this year’s awards and thank you for the tireless work that you do. It is needed now more than ever and these awards support that well deserved recognition.’

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