Nominate your heroes for a Celebrating Rushcliffe Award working with Parkwood Leisure!
Last updated: 9/9/2025
Residents and groups in Rushcliffe are being asked to acknowledge their unsung community, sporting, business and health heroes in the Borough Council’s community accolades, the Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards.
The annual awards evening will celebrate the Borough’s wonderful volunteers, businesses, clubs, organisations, environmentalists, sports clubs and athletes and the best of its health and wellbeing and food and drink sectors.
Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) are delighted to welcome back Parkwood Leisure as lead sponsors for the awards for a second year running. The ceremony will take place at Rushcliffe Arena in West Bridgford on Wednesday December 10.
In partnership with media partner West Bridgford Wire, it will be an opportunity to reflect on so many groups and individuals who play essential roles in Rushcliffe communities, bringing out the best in people and enterprise.
Nominations for the 10 awards are now open until Sunday October 12 and can be submitted online or by calling 0115 914 8555, Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Abby Brennan said: “I’m thrilled to announce the nominations are open for this year’s Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards!
“It’s an enriching evening that shines the spotlight on some of our outstanding individuals and organisations here in the Borough who are the heartbeat of what makes Rushcliffe a great place to live, with great sport and a great lifestyle.
“If you are inspired by someone who is making a positive difference, please take a look at our 10 award categories and submit your nomination! From our young person category to sportsperson or sports club, there are a wide range of opportunities to put someone forward.
“All shortlisted nominees will be invited to our wonderful annual awards evening at Rushcliffe Arena where the winners will be announced and celebrated. It really is a special night of the year focussing on people who achieve and give so much to Rushcliffe.
“Make sure you nominate your heroes before the closing date on October 12!”
Parkwood Leisure Managing Director Glen Hall added: “We’re pleased to come on board as lead sponsors for this inspiring event for the second continuous year. It’s a great celebration of people across the Borough who are making a difference in their local communities.
“We’re really excited to support the awards and celebrate the people, organisations, clubs and businesses that help enrich the health and wellbeing of the local community.
“If you know anyone who you’d like to put forward for an award, don’t hesitate and nominate them today!”
The 2025 award categories are:
Volunteer of the Year – Sponsored by Rehab Beauty
An individual or group who, in recent times, has given countless hours and dedication to a Rushcliffe community voluntarily giving up their own time. This may be within a sports club, community group, charity or other organisation.
Business of the Year – Sponsored by Rushcliffe Business Partnership
Recognising a business in the Borough that supports the local community. This could be through employing local people and apprentices, growing their business, providing work experience or putting profit back into the Rushcliffe economy.
Please nominate any food and drink businesses such as cafes and restaurants in the Food and Drink Establishment of the Year not in the Business of the Year category.
Young Person/Group of the Year – Sponsored by Ideagen
An individual or group to watch out for in the future for being an excellent role model for other young people to emulate. This could be an individual or group volunteering or making a difference in their community, or a junior sports team who have excelled over the year. This category is open to any individual or group under the age of 25.
Community Group of the Year – Sponsored by Fairham
Recognising a community club, organisation or group who may have achieved success and are helping create a sense of place, epitomising what makes Rushcliffe great by coming together to improve their local area.
Sportsperson of the Year
An individual who has achieved great success in their chosen sport, made a significant impact in their sport or in their club or team, been a role model for others and raised the profile of their sport or made considerable improvement in their performances and achievements.
Sports Club of the Year
Acknowledging a community sports club who has achieved success in their sport through diversity, competition or overcoming barriers to enable people to participate. You are encouraged to highlight achievements and club initiatives that have helped increase membership or the development of a new section.
Food and Drink Establishment of the Year
Recognising a food and drink business who provides quality, provenance, and presentation as well as being the best place for a cuppa, sandwich, pint, pizza, or pie.
Health and Wellbeing Project of the Year – Sponsored by Step Up Rehab
Recognising a new project which improves the health and wellbeing of the local community. This could be an initiative that reduces health inequalities such as combating social isolation and loneliness, increasing physical activity, improving access to green and blue spaces or affordable healthy food and education.
Environmental Award
Acknowledging individuals, organisations or projects that have an impact in making Rushcliffe a ‘greener’ place. This could include promoting nature conservation, reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, water conservation or improving quality of life for the people of the Borough. Nominations are accepted for individuals, organisations or projects that have an impact in Rushcliffe, making the borough a ‘greener’ place.
The Pride of Rushcliffe Award – Sponsored by Proludic
A dedicated individual or organisation who makes others proud to live in Rushcliffe and who has been a figure tirelessly serving their community or a local cause over a long period of time. This could be an inspirational sportsperson, public figure or an individual from a community or voluntary group who leads by example to make the borough a better place to live and work.
Pat Gamble, Editor of West Bridgford Wire added: “Previous awards have shown just how many incredible unsung heroes we have in our communities. These groups and individuals support the community in inspiring ways for no expectation of reward or are hugely successful or innovative.
“It really is a chance to show how much you appreciate these individuals and organisations. If you know anyone who deserves recognition in the Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards, please complete the online nomination form and tell us about your community heroes.”
Last year’s awards concluded with the most prestigious accolade, the Pride of Rushcliffe Award which last year was won by Willoughby on the Wolds’ Wendy Dickinson, daughter of legendary football manager Peter Taylor. Wendy is a trustee of the National Charity Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis (APF) which ended her father’s life prematurely and supports patients locally and nationally thanks to over 70 support groups nationwide.
A driving force behind the campaign, she has helped over 350 people since 2013 suffering the terminal illness including many at City Hospital in Nottingham.