The return of the Ashford Civic Awards!

In every corner of the borough there are people who are quietly remarkable. There are people who possess great strength of character, who make a substantial contribution to their community and who enrich the lives of others. There are also people who have made great personal sacrifice in order to achieve something outstanding. These people are often unrecognised and unknown – except by the people they are helping.

Ashford Borough Council held its first Civic Awards ceremony in 2012, as a fitting tribute to Her Majesty the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year, celebrating dedication to public service, while acclaiming the London Olympics. It was Ashford’s opportunity to honour local people who had helped others in a voluntary capacity, in their own way, at a local level.

Now, six years later, the council has decided to host the Civic Awards again – to find out who today’s community ‘heroes and heroines’ are, and to make sure that they, equally, are acknowledged and get the civic recognition they deserve.

Launched on 7th March 2018, the Civic Awards are sponsored by local companies, as well as Ashford Borough Council working together with the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and reflecting the partnership approach, which delivers for the residents and the businesses of Ashford.

The sponsors are: MJ Allen Castings & Machining, Peter Brett Associates, Chart Hills Resort, Facts & Figures Financial Planners, Hadlow College, HR GO Recruitment, ITL Group, Pillory Barn Creative, Quinn Estates, Red Alert, RIFT Group, Stanhope plc, and Wilkins Kennedy.

So, do you know someone whose actions have made a truly positive impact in the community, or to the borough as a whole? If so, nominate them and they could be heralded at the Ashford Borough Council Civic Awards in July.

We are looking for people who show caring and devotion for others; people who are shining examples of community spirit, giving selflessly of their time and their talents to support and help individuals within communities.

Anyone aged 16 or over, who is either a resident or who serves Ashford’s communities but lives outside the borough can be nominated. Essentially, the dedication of those people nominated must shine through as an example to others and their personal efforts must inspire those around them.

Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said “We are fortunate that Ashford is blessed with spirited people who act with tremendous dignity and who are effectively the heartbeat of their communities.

“We want to honour community champions, those who give their time to improve the lives of others, and those who can take pride in an immense personal achievement. The Civic Awards will be a platform on which these people can shine. It is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of the awards.”

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