The team at Community & Business Partners attended the Community CVS awards and took away two fabulous trophies!
We won the group award for Prosperity, Learning and Employment and was a finalist for Community Involvement! A great achievement for the team.

Dozens of volunteers across our local communities were thanked for their contributions at last week’s Community Volunteer Awards.

The event, held in King George’s Hall, was hosted by the BBC’s Graham Liver.

21 awards were presented to people and groups who go the extra mile to support others, and help make their neighbourhoods better places to live.

A record-breaking 713 nominations were received, which is the highest number ever for the awards, showing the gratitude that people feel for all the work put in by the borough’s volunteers and helpers over the past year.

The Community Volunteer Awards were jointly arranged and hosted by Blackburn with Darwen Council and Community CVS, with support from local businesses and community organisations.

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Councillor Phil Riley, said:

“Blackburn with Darwen is a friendly, neighbourly place with a strong ‘can do’ spirit. I’m always hugely impressed and inspired by the hundreds of people in our borough who give their time and energy, week in, week out, providing support of all kinds across our communities, with the aim of making people’s lives better.

“These contributions cannot be understated and I’m really pleased that we can come together at least once a year to recognise and reward our volunteers. Thank you for everything that you do.”

Garth Hodgkinson, Chief Executive of Community CVS, said:

“Each year I am blown away about the voluntary efforts that take place within Blackburn with Darwen. Anyone and everyone can volunteer. The youngest nomination was aged 8 – the oldest aged 90. To everyone who already volunteers -thank you for helping to make a difference. To everyone who might not have taken the plunge – why not have a go. Together we can achieve so much more.

“May I thank our eighteen sponsors, who support the awards.  Without your support – we would be unable to put on this remarkable event.”

Denise Park, Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, added:

“Attending the Community Volunteer Awards is always heartening and uplifting – I really enjoy celebrating our borough’s amazing volunteer. They make me even more proud of our borough and the community spirit that we have here.

“I’m delighted this year that a Council employee and a councillor are among the winners. Congratulations to them both, along with all the other very worthy award winners.”