Community Award
Proudly Sponsored By
About the Award
Every day, community organisations, Community Interest Companies (CICs) and charities make an extraordinary difference to individuals, families and communities.
The Community Award celebrates those delivering outstanding services, programmes and initiatives that improve lives, address social challenges and create meaningful opportunities.
We want to recognise the dedication, innovation and impact of organisations working tirelessly to support others.
Who Can Enter?
The C2S Community Award 2027 community organisations, Community Interest Companies (CICs) and charities in the South West, Midlands and South Wales, including Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath, Worcestershire and surrounding areas. The Community Award and Corporate Social Responsibility Award are mutually exclusive. Entrants may apply for only one of these two categories, subject to the relevant eligibility criteria.
Entry is completely free and open to both C2S members and non-members.
Judging Criteria
We want to hear about the wonderful work your organisation does and the difference you’re making to people’s lives and communities.
Every organisation is different, so you don’t need to demonstrate all the areas below. These are simply suggestions to help you tell your story and highlight what makes your organisation special.
You might like to tell us about:
- Community Impact: The positive difference you’re making to people’s lives and wellbeing.
- Programmes & Initiatives: The services, activities or projects you deliver to support your community.
- Partnerships & Collaboration: How you work with others to achieve more together.
- Innovation & Creativity: New ideas or approaches that help you overcome challenges.
- Community Engagement: How you bring people together, create opportunities or raise aspirations.
- Values & Responsible Practice: The principles that guide your work and how you care for people and the environment.
- Achievements & Results: What you’re most proud of and any examples that demonstrate your impact.
- Long-Term Impact: How you’re working to make a lasting difference.
Most importantly, tell us your story, what you’ve achieved and why your organisation deserves recognition.
What You Will Need To Enter
Basic business information, including your sector, turnover (where applicable), employee numbers, business values and workforce demographics.
All entries are confidential and shared only with the judging panel. You may enter multiple categories.
Why Enter?
Celebrate your people, strengthen your employer brand and gain recognition for creating an outstanding community, with opportunities for PR and promotion.
Tell your story. Enter the Community Award 2027.
How to Enter
Entering is simple and completely free!
Complete the online entry form and submit your application before the closing date. A member of the C2S team will then be in touch if any additional information or supporting documents are required.
Open to C2S members and non-members across the South West, Midlands and South Wales.
Save the Dates
Entries open
1st November 2026
Awards Launch
TBC
Entry Closing Date
TBC
Shortlisters’ celebration
TBC
Judging Takes Place
TBC
Finalists Drinks
TBC
Awards Evening
TBC
Knowledge Exchange Forum
TBC
Award Entry Guidelines
To give your entry the best chance of success, clearly demonstrate how your organisation or nominee has gone above and beyond, providing real examples, achievements and measurable results wherever possible. You may also submit additional supporting evidence, for example videos, news stories and/or accreditations.
Use clear headings and bullet points to help our judges understand your entry. The C2S team may contact you if additional information or supporting evidence is required.
Your entry should address the judging criteria above, supported by clear examples and measurable results wherever possible.
The application form will also ask for some basic information about your business:
- Business sector
- Turnover (where applicable)
- Number of employees
- Business purpose and values
NB: All information submitted will remain confidential and will only be shared with the judging panel.
You can enter multiple award categories, with a separate entry for each.
Important Information
- Free to enter – Open to C2S members and non-members.
- Nominations welcome – Enter your own organisation, nominate an individual or put forward another deserving business.
- Sponsors can enter – Sponsors may enter any categories they are not sponsoring.
- Finalist attendance – Finalists are expected to have at least one representative attend the Awards Evening, in accordance with our terms and conditions.
- Judging decisions – All entries are subject to our terms and conditions, and the judges’ decisions are final.
Please read our full Terms and Conditions before submitting your entry.
Ready to Enter or Nominate?
We look forward to celebrating your achievements and receiving your entry for the C2S Business Awards 2027.
Questions? Our team would be delighted to help. Contact info@c2sgrowth.com
A Message from the Category Sponsor
CCP is a registered charity (No.1043143) that exists to prevent the causes and reduce the effects of homelessness, family breakdown and exclusion. With a head office in Cheltenham, we currently employ 280 staff, backed up by a team of 100 + volunteers, currently delivering services and projects in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire and Dorset and Teignbridge.
The charity was originally founded in 1989 by a local businessman in response to the growing number of homeless young people in Cheltenham. Recognising that people as young as 16 were sleeping rough around the town after having been thrown out of their family home, he purchased a building and opened a 10 bed hostel.
Over the years, the charity has grown to become one of Gloucestershire’s foremost voluntary sector social care providers, and some 30 years after it was founded the original hostel is still managed by CCP as part of our Accommodation-based service, offering integrated accommodation and training to young people who are working to achieve sustainable independent living. The charity has also expanded in terms of the range of services offered and the geographical reach, currently working across five counties in the South West.
We embrace Social Value by encouraging volunteers to get involved in all of our services and projects. In the last year, volunteers have contributed 31,448 hours, worth £418,000!
We also have a thriving student program and provide work placements for social work students from University of Gloucestershire, University of the West of England, University of Worcestershire, Bournemouth University and Bristol University, overseen by qualified Practice Educators.
