Deadline looms for Basingstoke Place to be Proud of Awards

There are so many fabulous people, great businesses and community organisations in Basingstoke and Deane – and the 21st edition of the A Place to be Proud of Awards is looking forward to showcasing these community stars in 2024.

Now in its third decade, the A Place to be Proud of Awards have recognised and rewarded hundreds of people, businesses, organisations and projects since they started in 2003.

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For 2024, the awards will be moving to a new venue, as the Apollo Hotel, Lychpit, has come on board as a joint headline sponsor with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Many other long-standing sponsors are also returning, and there are several new categories as organiser Destination Basingstoke widens the scope of community recognition.

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The award categories for 2024 are:

• Above and Beyond – sponsored by Castle Trust Bank

• Health & Wellbeing – sponsored by Lilly UK

• Volunteer of the Year – sponsored by Beaufort Financial (Reading)

• Green Community Champion – sponsored by Tomato Energy

• Young Role Model – sponsored by Queen Mary’s College

• Community Project – sponsored by VIVID

• Charity of the Year – available for sponsorship

• Unsung Hero – available for sponsorship

• Sports Club of the Year – available for sponsorship

• Sports Personality of the Year (Junior and Senior) – available for sponsorship

• Inspirational Educator – available for sponsorship

Destination Basingstoke is partnering with Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke Voluntary Action, and Basingstoke Voluntary Sports Council to help ensure the call to nominate reaches every part of the local community. The Gazette, which was a founder of the awards in 2003, is the media partner for the 21st year.

Jonathan Pender, chair of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Destination Basingstoke is proud to organise the awards as they are at the heart of what DB does – showcasing, and celebrating, the amazing individuals, businesses and community organisations that make Basingstoke and Deane a place to be proud of.

“We are delighted that so many sponsors are continuing with their support for these prestigious awards, and we are also delighted to welcome some new sponsors for 2024.

“The clock is now ticking towards the entry deadline of April 7 so please get your nominations in by this date. There are so many potential worthy candidates for the 2024 awards, and we look forward to welcoming the finalists to the awards dinner.”

You can read all about the categories, and how to enter, by going to destinationbasingstoke.co.uk/a-place-to-be-proud-of.

Any business that would like to sponsor one of the remaining categories available for sponsorship should contact Mark Jones, partnerships manager at Destination Basingstoke, on mark.jones@destinationbasingstoke.co.uk.