By Niamh MacElvogue, Communications intern, National Association of Local Councils

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has opened nominations for the Star Council Awards 2022. As the only awards in England recognising the contribution local (parish and town) councils make to their communities, the Star Council Awards are an opportunity for the local council sector to showcase how they are making a change in their communities.

Cllr Keith Stevens, NALC chair, said: “Last year our sector showed brilliant ongoing commitment to its communities by stepping up to support them through the pandemic and this was recognised in a record number of nominations received. In 2022, I urge anyone who knows true community champions who have made a positive difference in the last year to put those people forward for an award because they deserve to be celebrated.”

The five award categories this year are:

• Clerk of the Year
• County Association Project of the Year
• Young Councillor of the Year (18-40)
• Councillor of the Year
• Council of the Year (public vote)

Please note that all nominees must come from the parish/town council sector.

Last year’s Council of the Year winner was Farnham Town Council, for its innovative, collaborative, and creative solutions to the problems that the pandemic presented. One of its initiatives was the Farnham Coronavirus Coordinating Group, a safeguarding framework coordinating five hundred volunteers who managed a helpline and community response supporting over 1,800 people with shopping, prescription collections and friendly phone calls. This initiative is now continuing as Farnham Connect, aiming to ensure a legacy of community is maintained as we come out of the pandemic.

Instructions for submitting your nomination, as well as further details of last year’s winners, can be found here. Entries are open until 27 May 2022 and the winners will be announced at an online ceremony later this year.