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This page about opportunities for award and recognition for community organisations is part of Community Action’s Resource Hub so if you have questions about how to run a community organisation, you’ve come to the right place!

If your community organisation is in Bradford District, advice is available from the Development Officer team.

Are we missing resources you need? Email info@cabad.org.uk and we will look into it!

Cloud shaped brown bookshelf with an upper and lower shelf full of different colours and sizes of books, some stood vertically and others stacked horizontally.

Awards and recognition

Is it time to celebrate achievements, boost morale and your profile by getting recognition for your organisation’s work? Community Action has created this list of awards and opportunities for recognition to help you get started.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for in the list below, try Bradford Council’s guide to recognising and honouring Bradford district people which includes Bradford Community Stars, street naming, honorary degrees, national honours system and the “Freedom of the City”!

For the latest opportunities for your community group in Bradford district email briefingbradford@cabad.org.uk to sign up for Community Action’s newsletter Briefing Bradford. If you are an awards provider please submit news content for the newsletter.

For registered charities only

Is your charity registered with the Charity Commission? These awards are open to registered charities only:

The Charity Awards
  • Organised by Civil Society Media
  • Annual
  • “Awards are about recognising originality. It’s very hard to give an award unless the applicant can show that their charity has created something really original, or improved considerably on existing best practice.”
  • “At present we will not accept applications from community interest companies and other social enterprise legal forms. We will accept projects carried out by charity trading subsidiaries and joint ventures partially owned by charities, so long as a charity submits the entry on their behalf.”
  • Entries for 2027 are expected to open in December 2026. Entries for 2027 are expected to close in February 2027.
  • Free to enter
  • https://charityawards.co.uk/
The Charity Governance Awards
  • Organised by The Clothworkers’ Company
  • Free to enter
  • “The Charity Governance Awards are an exciting not-for-profit initiative created to celebrate outstanding governance and trusteeship in charities across the UK, allowing large and small not-for-profit organisations to inspire and learn from one another. These are the only charity awards that are designed to celebrate trustees, free to enter (with a free awards ceremony), and do not generate profit for the sponsors or partners. Our mission is to celebrate and reward exceptional charity governance, while sharing exemplary work that inspires and informs boards and trustees across the country.”
  • https://www.charitygovernanceawards.co.uk/
The Charity Times Awards
  • Organised by The Charity Times
  • Annual
  • “The awards are open to any UK-based registered charity, or international charity with registered UK offices (and commercial organisations in relevant categories)”
  • Cost to enter £199 + VAT Charity with turnover under £1m, £299 + VAT Charity with turnover over £1m
  • https://www.charitytimes.com/awards/
GSK IMPACT Awards

For local organisations led by volunteers

Do you have more volunteers than paid staff? Take a look at:

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service
  • Organised by UK government
  • Annual
  • “Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.”
  • “KAVS awards are intended for groups that are led by volunteers and provide a benefit for local communities. The group must:
    • be made up of three or more people
    • be based in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
    • have been in operation for at least three years before nomination
    • have over half its volunteers eligible to reside in the UK
    • be led by volunteers, not by paid staff; over half its members should be volunteers
    • provide a specific and direct benefit to the local community”
  • Free to enter
  • https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/

For all types of community organisation

All types of community organisation, including registered charities and community interest companies can apply for these awards but make sure you read the criteria to check your organisation is eligible for the category you enter!

Apprenticeship and Training Awards  – OPEN NOW until 30 October 2026
  • Organised by EducationScape Ltd
  • Annual
  • “Entries are open to employers, training providers, and individuals involved in the development or delivery of recognised apprenticeships in the UK.”
  • Free to enter
  • https://apprenticeshipandtrainingawards.com/
Impact in Social Enterprise Award
National Fundraising Awards
RSPH Health and Wellbeing Awards
  • Organised by RSPH – Royal Society for Public Health
  • Every 2 years (next awards 2028)
  • “open to all organisations and sole traders who promote health and wellbeing as part of their commissioning/service provision role. This includes local authorities, health organisations (NHS and private), education providers, social enterprises, community and voluntary organisations, and private sector organisations.”
  • “RSPH is supportive of all organisations regardless of setting or size – it is the impact of your health improvement activity that counts.”
  • Award categories include
    • Arts and Health Award
    • Community Health Development Award
    • Health and Wellbeing in Workplaces Award
    • Health at Every Age Award
    • Healthier Lives Award
    • Mental Health and Wellbeing Award
  • Free to enter
  • https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/rsph-health-wellbeing-awards/
Princess Royal Training Awards
  • Organised by the City and Guilds Foundation
  • Annual
  • “The Awards are open to all organisations in the UK and Ireland regardless of size and sector. We welcome applications from private, public and not-for-profit organisations who have created outstanding training and skills development programmes. You need to be able to evidence how your investment in learning and development has had a positive impact on your organisation and people.”
  • “The training programme needs to be for your direct employees, volunteers, or others who you have a contractual arrangement with.”
  • Free to enter
  • https://princessroyaltrainingawards.com/
Tech4Good Awards
  • Organised by AbilityNet
  • “Awards are open internationally to any individual, business, charity, start-up, public body, or other organisation or individual that is using technology for good. You can nominate yourself or someone else, and you can submit more than one nomination in the same or different categories.”
  • Free to enter
  • https://www.tech4goodawards.com/
Third Sector Awards
  • Organised by Haymarket Media Group
  • Annual
  • “… awards are open to organisations that are:
    • Based in the UK
    • Not based in the UK, but your campaign/client is UK based
    • Not based in the UK, but you have an office in the UK that can represent the company at the Awards ceremony.”
  • Costs to enter will be published when awards next open.
  • https://www.thirdsectorawards.com/
Social Enterprise Yorkshire and Humber Awards
UK Social Enterprise Awards
Yorkshire Awards
Yorkshire Business of the Year Awards
Yorkshire Choice Awards – OPEN NOW until 31 December 2026
  • Organised by
  • Annual
  • Categories include:
    • CHARITABLE EXCELLENCE AWARD “Open to Charities in Yorkshire. This award is of particular significance, as the ultimate winner will not only be recognised for their exceptional charitable contributions but will also be designated as our chosen charity for 2027!”
    • VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
    • COMMUNITY ARTS AWARD
    • LOCAL FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR
  • Free to enter
  • https://www.yorkshirechoiceawards.co.uk/

How Community Action can help

Need to talk through your options? If the community organisation is in Bradford district UK (including Shipley, Ilkley, Bingley and Keighley), Community Action can help.

Make an appointment to talk to one of our development officers. For organisations with an annual income under £100,000 advice and getting started training courses are free of charge.

Want to start a for-profit business or be a sole trader? Sorry, Community Action doesn’t provide advice to those groups.

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