Call for Nominations: Spirit of Salford Community Awards 2025 (UK)

The Spirit of Salford Community Awards celebrate the great work of the individuals and community groups who do so much to make Salford great.

Overall Awards

• Citizen of the Year: The Citizen of the Year Award will recognise a truly inspirational Salford hero who has made an outstanding contribution to Salford. The award is open to anyone who lives in the city.
• Community Group of the Year: The Community Group of the Year award will celebrate the group that has made the most outstanding contribution to Salford this year.
• Public Servant of the Year: The Public Servant of the Year award will recognise an exceptional front-line worker who puts the people of Salford first.

Award Categories

• Best Child Friendly Project: This award will recognise an individual or group doing outstanding work to make Salford a more child friendly city.
• Young Person of the Year: The Young Person of the Year award will go to an exceptional young person who has achieved great things this year.
• Volunteer of the Year: The Volunteer of the Year Award will celebrate an individual whose volunteering has had a tremendous impact in the city this year.
• Good Neighbour of the Year: The Good Neighbour of the Year Award will recognise a person who goes out of their way to help and support their neighbours.
• Best Health Achievement: The Best health achievement award will recognise a determined individual or group doing great things to improve health in Salford.
• Best Environmental Improvement: The Best Environmental Improvement award will recognise an individual or group making a lasting contribution to Salford’s environment.
• Best Community Safety Project: The Best Community Safety Project Award will recognise an individual or community group working tirelessly to make Salford safer.

Eligibility Criteria

• Citizen of the Year:
  • Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
    • An outstanding commitment to Salford and its people
    • Work that has made long-lasting improvements to the city or a specific community
    • Overcoming a personal difficulty or making a stand to improve their life or the lives of others
• Community Group of the Year:
  • The award is open to all community groups based in Salford.
  • Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
    • Evidence of a deep commitment to Salford
    • Work that has provided a long-lasting benefit to Salford and its communities
    • Community groups that have made a difference to the lives of people in Salford
• Public Servant of the Year:
  • The award is open to workers in the NHS, emergency services and other public organisations.
  • Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
    • Helping people and working tirelessly to improve the lives of others
    • Making an outstanding contribution to a public service, neighbourhood or community
    • Work that is highly valued by residents and communities
• Best Child Friendly Project:
  • Judges will be seeking to recognise work that has improved the lives of children and young people in Salford by:
    • Strengthening the rights of children and young people
    • Bringing child and young people new opportunities in areas like education, play, and skills and work
    • Otherwise meeting the goals of the children friendly cities agenda as set out by UNICEF
• Young Person of the Year:
  • Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
    • Significant achievements or high levels of attainment, particularly in the face of adversity
    • Evidence of selflessness and willingness to help others
    • A sense of pride in being from Salford
    • Overcoming obstacles and challenges and demonstrating resilience
• Volunteer of the Year:
  • The award is open to anyone who volunteers in the city.
  • Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
    • Volunteering that has made a real difference to Salford
    • Volunteering that has helped to address significant challenges in the city
    • Volunteering that has improved the lives of people living in Salford
• Good Neighbour of the Year:
  • The award is open to anyone who lives in the city.
  • Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
    • A sense of pride in Salford’s communities and neighbourhoods and a commitment to making them better
    • A willingness to help and support others, particularly vulnerable people
    • Strong commitment to a community or neighbourhood
• Best Health Achievement:
  • The award is open to individuals and groups based in the city.
  • Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
    • An outstanding commitment to improving personal health or helping others improve their health
    • Overcoming difficulties or challenges
    • Being a role model and setting a good example for other people
• Best Environmental Improvement:
  • The award is open to both individuals and groups based in the city.
  • Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
    • An outstanding commitment to improving or safeguarding the local environment in Salford
    • Demonstrating pride in Salford and its neighbourhoods
    • Taking an inclusive approach to educate and involve others
• Best Community Safety Project:
  • The award is open to individuals and groups based in the city.
  • Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:
    • Work that has had a long-lasting benefit for neighborhoods’ or communities
    • Effective partnerships with public organisations such as the Police or Fire Services
    • Work that has had a positive impact on people’s lives, including vulnerable people.

For more information, visit Salford City Council.