PREVIOUS winners of the A Place to be Proud of Awards are being given a final chance to attend this year’s milestone event.

It was back in 2003 that the first awards were launched – and since then, hundreds of wonderful finalists and winners have been recognised for their outstanding achievements in, or contributions to, Basingstoke and Deane.

The team at Destination Basingstoke, with the support of community-focused sponsors, have organised the awards for many years, and this successful partnership is the driving force behind the 2023 awards which will culminate in the grand finale at The Haymarket, in Basingstoke, on the evening of Thursday, June 8.

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As it’s a milestone year, 100 free tickets are being made available to past winners who wish to attend and enjoy this special occasion. The deadline to apply for these tickets has now been extended to Friday, April 14.

Jonathan Pender, chair of Destination Basingstoke, said: “The A Place to be Proud of Awards is always a special occasion, and this year’s event will be particularly memorable as we celebrate the 20th birthday of the awards.

“Destination Basingstoke, with the support of fantastic sponsors and key partners, has been delighted to deliver these awards for many years, and it is always wonderful to put the spotlight on the people, businesses and community organisations that make Basingstoke and Deane a place to be proud of.

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“We would be thrilled to have past winners join us at this special evening, so we hope that they will get in touch and come and enjoy this memorable occasion.”

Past winners can register to attend by emailing Destination Basingstoke events manager Elizabeth Spencer on elizabeth.spencer@destinationbasingstoke.co.uk by Friday, April 14.

And nominations for this year can be made online at destinationbasingstoke.co.uk – the closing date is Friday, April 28. All nominees of finalists will be invited to the awards ceremony.

There are a range of categories, sponsored by local businesses. The awards are free to enter, and the categories are:

  • Health and Wellbeing Award – sponsored by Lilly
  • Community Project Award – sponsored by Destination Basingstoke
  • Above and Beyond Award – sponsored by Castle Trust Bank
  • Volunteer of the Year Award – sponsored by Beaufort Financial (Reading)
  • Arts and Entertainment Award – sponsored by Basingstoke Community Radio
  • Young Role Model Award – sponsored by Queen Mary’s College 
  • Unsung Hero Award – sponsored by Champion Group
  • Business and the Community Award – sponsored by Shaw Gibbs

Destination Basingstoke will once again be working with Basingstoke Voluntary Action, as a key partner, to help ensure the call to nominate reaches every part of the community, and the Gazette, which was a founder of the awards in 2003, is the media partner for the 20th year.